(Anglican) Archbishop of Canterbury: Go to Confession

In the Church of England, the see of Canterbury traditionally has alternated between a “high church catholic” and an “evangelical” archbishop. It is a bit unexpected, then, that the current inhabitant, Archbishop Welby (from the evangelical wing) recently said that it is “enormously powerful” to go to confession. Hmm, a sign that the old boundaries are breaking down?

The Telegraph reports:

The Most Rev Justin Welby advised churchgoers that it could be an “enormously powerful” experience to unburden themselves to a confessor, even if it was not always a “bunch of laughs.” …

Although Archbishop Welby comes from the evangelical wing of Anglicanism, his personal spiritual director is a Swiss Roman Catholic priest, Fr Nicolas Buttet, and he is a strong advocate of Catholic worship styles.
Editor

Katharine E. Harmon, Ph.D., edits the blog, Pray Tell: Worship, Wit & Wisdom.

Please leave a reply.

Comments

6 responses to “(Anglican) Archbishop of Canterbury: Go to Confession”

  1. crystal watson

    He’s an atypical Anglican anyway, given he has a Catholic spiritual director 😉

    Reply
    1. John Corbyn

      @crystal watson – comment #1:
      I don’t know where Crystal comes from but in the UK in matters of spirituality there is a lot of C of E /R C overlap. In my C of E parish we recently had a Week of Accompanied Prayer and my Prayer Guide was an RC sister. She was not at all daunted by my being a priest – though I suppose as an RC she may have regarded me as a layperson!

      Reply
  2. crystal watson

    I’m in the US. You’re right, of course – I was forgetting there’s sharing in the area of spirituality between the C of E and UK Catholics … I know a lot of Anglicans, for instance, make Ignatian retreats. I guess I’m confused about UK ‘evangelicals’ …. would Steve Chalke be one, or Keith Ward?

    Reply
    1. Mark Miller

      @crystal watson – comment #3:
      I don’t know them. I think it means in the “evangelical wing” of the C of E, not an untethered Evangelical, so to speak. Big difference, since as A of B he is now an officer of state, and comes before the PM in protocol.

      Reply
  3. George Hayhoe

    Archbishop Justin was a member of Holy Trinity Brompton (htb.org.uk) before his ordination to the priesthood. HTB is one of the best-known and most vibrant evangelical Anglican parishes, and holds a total of 11 services in four locations in London every Sunday. HTB is renowned for its adult Christian formation program. Cardinal Christof Schonborn spoke at HTB’s leadership conference last May, and its Vicar, Nicky Gumbel, regularly invites Roman Catholic clergy and laity (as well as members of other denominations) to speak at and participate in HTB events all over the world.

    The archbishop has acknowledged the influence of the Benedictines and the Franciscans on his spiritual formation.

    It’s interesting to see this cross-fertilization of “evangelical” and “high church” traditions. And perhaps not as atypical as some might think.

    Reply
  4. Dylan Barker

    Here’s the U.S. Bk. of Common Prayer (1979 ed.) form for confession:—

    * * *

    Reconciliation of a Penitent
    Form One

    (The Penitent begins:)

    Bless me, for I have sinned.

    (The Priest says:)

    The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips that you may truly and humbly confess your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    (Penitent:)

    I confess to Almighty God, to his Church, and to you, that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially __________. For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy on me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church, and ask you for counsel, direction, and absolution.

    (Here the Priest may offer counsel, direction, and comfort.)

    (The Priest then pronounces this absolution:)

    Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offenses; and by his authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    (The Priest adds:)

    The Lord has put away all your sins. Go (or abide) in peace, and pray for me, a sinner.

    (Penitent:)

    Thanks be to God.

    Reply

Posted

in

by

Editor

Tags:

, ,

Discover more from Home

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading