BLESSED LANCELOT ANDREWES (SEPT. 26TH)

  

The Blessed Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, AD 1555-1626,
 We remember with gratitude those bishops in England who attempted to unify with the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Orthodox Church. While they were failures in the world’s eyes, being martyred, exiled or imprisoned, they are champions in the eyes of eternity and to their faithful progeny, who are Orthodox in the English Patrimony and fully Western in their Christian worship and cultural expression! Blessed feast of a Blessed Bishop! 

Edited by Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Bishop Lancelot Andrewes is honored on September 26th, the anniversary of his death in AD 1626. Andrewes served as bishop of Chichester, Ely, and finally Winchester. 

When King James I commissioned his new translation of the Bible, Andrewes was appointed principal editor for the first twelve books of the Old Testament and general editor for the entire project. He was principally responsible for the philosophy behind the textual decisions made in the translation process. 

Bp. Andrewes Immortalized in Stained Glass, as One of the Great Translators of the King James Bible

Lancelot Andrewes had great reverence for sacramental worship. Ignoring criticism from the hyper-Reformed and Anabaptist faction in society, he promoted belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the sacramental life of the Church as necessary for sanctification in the Christian walk. 

Bishop Andrewes was one of the most learned clergymen of his time and a recognized authority on the works of the Greek Fathers. Ninety-six of his sermons were published in 1631 by command of King Charles I, and his works fill eight volumes of the Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology, a Tractarian initiative of the nineteenth century. 

Bishop Andrewes is also remembered for working toward intercommunion between the Church of England and the Churches in the East, mainly, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He helped to establish a brief period of dialogue between Anglicans and the Eastern Orthodox, before Puritan rebellion and persecution forced the English church underground.

The Lancelot Andrewes Press Book of Common Prayer, 
a Western Rite Orthodox Tribute to the Blessed Bishop, Featuring the Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow

The American Missal, an Anglocatholic Missal Originally Published by High-Church Episcopalians, Republished by Lancelot Andrewes Press, Expressing Full Orthodoxy in the Anglican Patrimony

Bp. Andrewe's Final Resting Place, Southwark Cathedral

T.S. Elliot's Tribute to Bl. Bp. Andrewes

May we faithfully continue that work that Bishop Lancelot Andrewes started, in rightfully discerning the Body of Christ in all those who hold an Orthodox and Catholic faith, and restoring the Anglican Patrimony to Apostolic fullness and truth!

COLLECT 

ALMIGHTY GOD, who gavest to the Blessed Bishop Lancelot Andrewes many gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, forming him into a man of prayer, a brave pastor, and a leader towards catholicity within the English Church: perfect in us that which is lacking in our faith, to increase it, of hope, to establish it, of love, to kindle it, that we may live in the light of Thy grace and glory, and express the fullness of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith within the Anglican Patrimony; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

(The first three paragraphs largely from John F. Nash, “The Sacramental Church”, 2011)