Ben wrote the feature article on page 6, A Goodly Heritage: The High Churchmanship of John Keble.
Here's an excerpt:
We who believe in the Nicene Creed must acknowledge it a high privilege that we belong to the Apostolic Church. (John Keble, "Adherence to the Aposotlical Succession the Safest Course," Tracts for the Times, vol. 1 no. 4)
The Reverend John Keble is undoubtedly one of the bright lights of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Keble was a poet and one of the primary forces behind the religious revival known as the Oxford Movement (along with E.B. Pusey, R.H. Froude and J.H. Newman). His collection of verse for the Sundays and feasts of the Church calendar, The Christian Year, went into 109 editions between its publication in 1827 and Keble's death in 1866. The immediate success of this work helped earn him the Chair of Poetry at Oxford, a position he held for almost a decade. His edition of the works of Richard Hooker, published in 1836, remained influential well into the twentieth century. His contributions to the University and the Church led to the establishment of Keble College, Oxford in 1870. Many of his poems, such as “Evening” (also known as “Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear”) continue to hold a prominent place in many hymnals.
However, Keble was not primarily a poet, professor, nor the leader of a religious movement. His primary commitment was to his office as a parish priest. This role was central to Keble's identity and the motivation for all of the other work he did. As a priest, Keble believed he was fulfilling an office in an institution which began with Christ's commission to the original Twelve Apostles. This institution, the Church, possessed and transmitted the sacred treasure of the Gospel from one generation to the next. The priesthood was God's chosen channel to communicate his sacramental grace to all Christians. The Church had survived wars, persecution, great wealth, extreme poverty, heresy, corruption and reform. Through the grace of God, the protection of the Angels, the prayers of the Saints, the faithful service of the clergy and the quiet obedience of all Christians, the Church would continue until the end of the world. It is this view of the Church and his role in it – not elaborate liturgy, incense, or richly coloured vestments – that marks the High Churchmanship of John Keble.
Read more on page 6, here: Michaelmas PAX 2010.
