The Anglican Spiritual Tradition by John H. R. Moorman

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Prologue

• Moorman introduces us to a fictional priest whose story he uses to explain the history of the Church of England’s separation from the Roman Catholic.
  
• Moorman helps us see through eyes of the priest the radical changes that took place when the English church broke with Rome and the pendulum swings that took place as various kings and queens of England imposed their wills – either Roman or Protestant – on the leadership of the church.
  
• The short fictional story is important because it teaches the readers the history of the birth of the Anglican Church in way gives helps them not only understand the facts but also the emotional and existential upheaval that the laity and clergy experienced during the genesis of the Anglican Church.

Chapter 1: 'The Old Order Changeth, Yielding Place to New'

• In this chapter Moorman begins exploring the reforms that the Anglican Church brought to Roman Catholic practice and tradition.
• He argues that there were three main areas of reform: (1) the introduction of the English Bible, (2) the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer, and (3) the wedding of Word and Sacrament.
• This chapter highlights the significant reforms that took place early in the history of the Anglican church that set the stage for the further developments. It also points out where the church reformed the Roman tradition while at the same time not wanting to totally dismiss everything Roman.