“Dr Headlam is Regius professor of divinity in the University of Oxford. He traces the doctrine of the church from the four gospels down to the Lambeth conference. He says that Christ ‘created the church as a visible society. He instituted ministry and sacraments. He gave authority for legislation and discipline.’ ‘But he gave no directions as to the form or organization of the new community, and the actual organization which was ultimately developed was different from anything which he personally established.’ Episcopacy ‘was the creation of the church.... It had its origin in the apostolic church; it represents a continuous development from apostolic times; but we cannot claim that it has apostolic authority.’ Dr Headlam defends the historic episcopacy and the Nicene creed as a basis for organic church union, not on the ground that they have the direct authority of Jesus Christ, but because their value has been recognized by an overwhelming majority in the Christian church from a very early age.”—Outlook
“The writer, condemning himself, well says; ‘Only too often the professed adoption of the historical method appears to be but a device for concealing one’s bias’; for on page after page he misrepresents and misinterprets the evidence that lies plainly before him.”
− Cath World 112:543 Ja ’21 600w
Reviewed by Lyman Abbott
+ Outlook 126:689 D 15 ’20 390w Sat R 130:459 D 4 ’20 1650w
“It should not only be read, but studied; and, in particular, it should be in the hands of every member of the Lambeth conference.”
+ Spec 125:779 D 11 ’20 2000w + Springf’d Republican p9a O 24 ’20 1150w (Reprinted from The Times [London] Lit Sup p486 Jl 29 ’20)
“No other recent book on the church and its ministry matches this volume in importance. It brings out the essential elements of the problems with which it deals clearly and dispassionately. Students of this subject will appreciate the fact that there is apparently not a single ambiguous sentence in the book.”
+ The Times [London] Lit Sup p486 Jl 29 ’20 2200w