The Revision of the Ordinal in the Church of England 1550-2005

Abstract

AbstractThis article traces the origins of the Anglican Ordinal and its revisions between 1550 and 1662, and compares this rite with the current Ordinal of the Church of England’s Alternative Service Book 1980. It draws out a number of underlying theological principles in the tradition about the meaning of ordination and points to areas for reform. It thus sets the scene for a future critique, in this journal, of the Church of England’s forthcoming revised Ordinal.