The Longest Word in the Languag
The Church of England: Its Members and Its Business. By Guy Mayfield. (0.U.P., 18s.) 'THE ESTABLISHMENT': the very phrase has become a kind of standing reproach against the hollow respectability of certain parts of public life. Abusus non tollit usum: for society cannot exist without some kinds of establishment, nor can the continuity of English life and institutions be otherwise maintained. Is the National Church still such a necessary institution? The ideal behind the English Establishment—an ideal that was never realised—was that the Church should simply be English society in its religious aspect. But the growing numbers of Roman Catholics, the strength of the Free Churches and the massive indifference of most Englishmen have radically transformed the situation from what it was even a century ago.
Is there still a case for our Church Establish- ment? There are two ways of considering the ques- tion. The empirical Englishman might simply assess the matter in terms of expediency for both Church and State. Happily, however, there are still some who think in terms of principles, and in his Hibbert Lectures Principal Murray asks some fundamental questions about the relationship of Church and State in a free society. Always interest- ing if sometimes discursive, he writes as a Liberal Protestant of the old school. The Church's task in the world is 'not to make converts to a creed or to accept a common organisation, but to provide an area within which the fatherhood of God is operative as a way of life.' Separatism is as important as eucumenicity, and holding 'the ideal church' over against ecclesiastical institutions, he believes that 'only where there is concern for people is there any possibility of a free society.' Although Principal Murray regards the Church of England as gravely lacking in fraternity (and who could disagree with him?), he thinks that no responsible Free Churchman would wish for dis- establishment today. While a Concordat settles the rights of an institutional Church, our Establish- ment symbolises a Christian concern for the Whole English people, and disestablishment would be regarded throughout the world as a national re- pudiation of this concern.
Such a view of the Establishment would be generally held by Anglicans also, except for a few rigorists of different extremes. Thus it is interesting that Principal Murray makes some of the fame points in favour of Establishment as Mr. Edwards does in his penetrating little book on the Church of England. Both look rather wistfully at the Scottish form of establishment, where the State recognises the National Church but the Church is free to order its own worship, doctrine and discipline. Unfortunately for the Church of England, its circumstances are different from those of the Kirk. The Church of Scotland has a clearly defined body of doctrine : it comprises the great majority of the Scottish people : it has a long tradition of effective Church discipline : the de- mand for spiritual freedom, now long established, was the spontaneous expression of the feelings of the Scottish people. The Church of England can- not claim any of these safeguards for self- government. The report of the Church's third and latest Commission on the subject (published in 1952) rightly regarded the Scottish settlement as impracticable at present in 'England. Yet some- thing more can and must be done to free the Church from the overriding authority of the State.
Nor is this all. Administrative reforms are over- due. The machinery creaks : instead of Fathers in God the bishops tend to become ecclesiastical
executive power); rather than super- Guy Mayfield has -to-day machinery larity and critical plains the extraery by which the elf. When he. states s touch is less cer- ple, of a diocesan .1 of clerical allow- ience, seems likely )Ives more than admin.. ts true function. 'II alive to its oppor- ecome the church well as in theory: one who is Prince' gical college. The State need to be veen Anglicans and e effectively at the England needs to it what is required and Liberty Move- 1 State; something y Movement which First World War. atren, even danger' a new stimulus to
administrators (with too much innovations seem to supplemen sede the practices of the past. admirably expounded the day of the Church. With loving c affection the Archdeacon e3 ordinary methods and machir Church tries to administer hers his own opinions, however, hi tam. His suggestion, for exam quota of clergy, or of a systen ances based on age and exper to pose more problems than it si
The Church of England need! istrative reform if it is to fulfil i the Church of England were tunities it would very soon b of the whole nation in fact as These are striking words from pal of a Free Church theolo relations between Church and more flexible : friendliness betv others needs to be realised moi parish level : the Church of put its own house in order. Bt above all is a new kind of Life ment, to stir both Church anc like the original Life and Libert William Temple led after the Liberty without life would be 1,1 ous; but new life would give spiritual freedom.
If the State demands the eni
d of the Establish' 'sent, the Church must. bow; but there are few Mgns as yet that such a demand will be made. It is the Church itself which needs to show initiative. Antidisestablishmentarianism may be the longest abstract word in the English language, but it con- tains a double negative. The Church of England awaits a positive call to its spiritual mission.
HUGH MONTEFIORE
Previous page
