The Oxford History of Christian Worship (review)

Abstract

Oxford History of Christian Worship. Edited by Geoffrey Wainwright and Karen B. Westerfield Tucker. (New York: Oxford University Press.2006. Pp. xx, 916. $55.00.) It is truly admirable that a work of this breadth (and length) is at once useful to liturgical specialist, to trained theologian, to church historian, and to educated layperson. Its scope and structure of thirty-four chapters is mostly chronological with separate topical chapters on such things as women in worship, liturgical music, spatial setting, visual arts, vestments and objects, and a retrospect by highly qualified and well respected scholars who are general editors of volume. Geoffrey Wainwright brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from a decidedly theological and ecumenical approach to liturgy. His professorship at Duke University was preceded by prestigious positions in England, then Cameroon, and New York City. His masterful book of liturgical theology, Doxology, deserves name classic with which it is often described. Karen Westerfield Tucker's contribution Women in Worship reflects her astute grasp of a number of issues related to liturgy, not least of which is contemporary relevance of such a traditional part of church life. Among more difficult decisions such editors have to make is how to introduce such a volume.That it begins by a fundamentally scriptural and theological approach from pen of Wainwright himself is both an important statement of depth of this book, as well as setting an important theological tone for much of rest of book. One could debate a few of his assertions; one could also opine that it is too brief. Yet on balance theological overture struck here is admirable, especially given way liturgical studies have been so variously described and pursued of late. It is important to note format of this book. Photographs, sketches, and copies of art work and liturgical vessels fill its pages. Also at regular intervals authors quote at length from a church document, prayer book, commentary on liturgy, or another writing from period at hand. These are easily noticed because they are set off from rest of print by their grayish background and dark border.These documents give an important glimpse into issues being discussed. They offer a primary source for secondary reflection about sources and phenomena under discussion. Almost all of over thirty international contributors to this volume represent first tier of liturgical scholars alive today. Each is recognized in his or her field and almost always are well recognized to be connected with chapters they have authored, e.g., John Baldovin on the Empire baptized (312-622 A.D.) or Andre Haquin, The Liturgical Movement and Roman Catholic Ritual Revision (nineteenth century on). Certainly Anscar Chupungco is well known for his work on liturgical inculturation (Mission and Inculturation: East Asia and Pacific) but one needs to note that his particular contribution is somewhat dated (it was topic of his doctoral dissertation) and that in Catholic circles one would have welcomed at least some reference to 1994 document from Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship, Varietates Legtttmae, on very topic. editors' intention to include Orthodox, Catholic, Reformation churches, Mennonite, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches from widest geographical spectrum (Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe) is sustained throughout. …