THE ANGLICAN CHURCH
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Allow me to thank Mr. J. W. Poynter for his excellent letter in your impression of 22nd inst. on the comprehensive character of the Anglican Church. He put very clearly and logically the need of all parties within the Church.
I would like to supplement in very few words what he says about the ancient character of our Church, when he referred to " councils held centuries ago." There are a great many clerics and laity alike, who do not realize that our Church services go back ages beyond the General Councils of the early centuries of our Christian era ; we are indebted for the very structure of our services to the ancient Hebrew Liturgy which dates from the Temple Service and Maccabaean times, in which our Saviour and His Apostles took part in the synagogues of Palestine.
Those interested in the subject will find very much food for thought in that illuminating book, The Jewish Background of the Christian Liturgy, by Dr. Oesterley, Rector of St. Mary Aldermary (Clarendon Press).—I am, Sir, &c.
2 Execliff, Exmouth.
WORTHINGTON JUKES.
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