Articles - Book Reviews - Richard Giles

"We do not presume - a beginner's guide to Anglican life and thought" by Richard Giles. Published by Canterbury, ISBN 1-855311-203-8. Price Ł6.99.

"The Church of England is all that stands between us and God", as one Parliamentarian stated during a debate on disestablishment. He may well have been right! To some the Anglican Church re presents a home for muddled theology, a natural place for fence-sitters. For others, this ability to accommodate such a spread of faith and opinion is its greatest strength. I suspect that for many the dear old C of E is more like a slightly cracked maid en aunt; the object of deep and warm affection, but not to be suffered for more than an hour or two a week. I have felt all of these, and have no intention of saying which I feel right now!

Like me, you might find it useful to read this book. You will not agree with all that you find in it, but you will find yourself portrayed here and, I hope, draw strength from the richness of diversity that this book uncovers as being part of the Anglican heritage that is ours. We are part of a church that has its roots in the earliest days of Christianity in this country, and in that we are catholic. We are also part of a church that has been touched by the Reformation, and is subject to continued reform, and in that we are reformed. We include charismatics, catholics, evangelicals, liberals - and no doubt a few agnostics!

Richard Giles traces something of the rich history of this church, and tries to identify what makes it distinct and valuable as part of the world-wide Church today. He looks at how Anglicanism functions in the way it understands God, and what it means to be a Christian in the Anglican way. If you're not sure what Anglicanism is, or if you're not sure why you are an Anglican, then this book might be worth a try.

Jeremy Trew