Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, January 10, 2008



But when he came to the side of the table where the bread and wine were, he bowed himself seven times, and then, after the reading of many prayers by himself ….. he himself came near the bread ….. and then bowed very low three times towards it and the table ….. Then he laid his hand upon the gilt cup, which was full of wine, with a cover open it. So soon as he had pulled the cup a little nearer to him, he let the cup go, flew back and bowed again three times towards it.

- William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, on his feast day (died 1645)


Well, one should always have a little amusement now and then! Here in all his finery is William Laud, who was Archbishop of Canterbury under King Charles II. In a virulently (my adjective! – does this expose my leanings???) Puritan age, he was strongly “catholic” in his devotional and theological leanings. The description above was, of course, written by one of his most virulent Puritan foes. Anyway, Laud managed to become bishop of three dioceses and then of Canterbury. He had several Puritans who “vilified” either him or his ideas horribly mutilated (ears chopped off and noses split) and imprisoned. And now he is a “saint” in the Anglican and Episcopal Kalendar. “Saint” means, to “us”, someone striving to live their faith with commitment and devotion. Shows you how irenic we Anglicans are – or were, until the Episcopal Church-bashing Third-Worlders ….. well, never mind. Laud was eventually clapped into the Tower and executed. Hence a “martyr” - though I think he would have shuddered at the thought of many virgins as a reward, being in essence a prig.

Laud, by the way, is the man who gave us either the gift or the curse of the altar rail. He put one up in Canterbury Cathedral to keep the wandering livestock and their imprudent manners away from the altar. (So the story goes.)

What about those ecclesiastical duds of his! Especially the hat – known as a “Canterbury Cap”. I was contemplating whether or not I should affect this style. On reflection ….. no. However, it is reported that Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury under Queen Elizabeth, was installed to his office wearing a “cassock of light black wool and a floor-length tippet (preaching scarf) of sable fur”. More my style.

Have a laugh. What a bunch we are!

Brian+