This is an informative, comprehensive and controversial exploration of one of the nation's most established institutions, the Church of England. The text explores the Church's glories and achievements, its origins and structures and its organizations.
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Hells bells! The turn-of-the-millennium UK church-attendance figures confirmed what many believed all along: that the church is still in decline, or as George Carey so dramatically put it in 1998, is "bleeding to death". Although many Britons would claim to be "C of E", it seems the allegiance stretches only as far as "hatches, matches and despatches"--being baptised, married and buried in Anglican ceremonies. But why? Furlong has set about trying to fathom this out, and "to make sense of the Church I belong to" along the way. The result is a beautifully engaging consideration of the Church's history, from its break with Rome to the present day. It provides a thorough-going, objective history, as well as a vivid snapshot of the present and a passionate glance towards the future. En route, Furlong has visited many different churches and canvassed a wide range of opinion. And although she has stumbled upon much dead wood, she is heartened by the green shoots--the tireless belief and work of church-goers across the country, who help to shape and inform parish (and national) life. Her eagerness to see these grow is entirely infectious, and her call for a typically English "via media" convincing. In the wake of the call by the Church of England for "root-and-branch reform", this is a serious, informative and intelligent study. Yet it is a fascinating personal quest, too. It must surely prove to be a crucial offering in the ongoing debate. Here endeth a quite unmissable lesson. --Brian Draper
Review
"'Clear, comprehensive and searching. Asks some hard questions but allows a variety of voices to be heard. A good and necessary book.' Evening Standard. 'A reflective and engaging book, in which Furlong's loyalty to the institution does not prevent her from pointing out painful truths about its current plight.' Sunday Telegraph. 'A devastating analysis of a church in theological, spiritual and organisational palsy - written by a supporter.' Guardian. 'A controversial and important book.' The Tablet."
--This text refers to an alternate
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a history of the Chuch of England, it's foundation, the endless conflicts between itself and other Christians and eventually of it's final establishment with England, and then about it's modern decline in the face of secularism. It also explains in depth the structure of the Church of England and the conflicts and divisions within it.
I agree with Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Runcie who describes this book thusly: "The best book on the C of E that I have read for years".
It includes a lot of honest criticism of the C of E, and statistics, and commentary and summaries along side in depth historical and structural information about the Church of England.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For an avid and emotional supporter of the Church the author of this book is a breath of fresh air in her honesty. It details the history of the Church of England, from it's foundations, through the reformation and to the present day. It looks at where it failed, what went wrong, what went right, and notes the history and beliefs of the people versus the clergy through that time.
Grace Davies told us in statistics what common knowledge already told us: Since 1945 the C of E has been reduced to less than half it's previous size, financially it has come to Earth with a crash, and it is bleeding adherents at an astonishing rate. Monica Furlong tells us sociologically and emotionally how this has occured.
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