Marginal Catholics: Anglo-Catholicism: a Further Chapter of Modern Church History / Ivan Clutterbuck

In recent years many new studies of the Oxford Movement have appeared. Few, however have sought to examine the subsequent impact of the Movement’s ideas and principles, from the Ritualist Movement in the second half of the nineteenth century, through the great Congresses of the 1920’s, to the current state of the Anglo-Catholicism today.

In Marginal Catholics Ivan Clutterbuck attempts such as examination. Using the considerable knowledge he gained as Secretary of the Church Union, he is able to offer a first hand account of much of the history of this period. His account of the debates over the proposal to unite with the Methodist church is the first to have been published for some years, whilst his descriptions of Anglo-Catholicism between and during the wars will help to bring to life a forgotten chapter in the Anglican history. His work ends with a survey of the debate over the ordination of women, and the subsequent problems that the decision to ordain women to the priesthood has created for Anglo-Catholics who wish to remain within the church.

This new study will appeal to all those who are interested in modern ecclesiastical history, as well as to those who have a specific interest in the Oxford Movement or Anglo-Catholicism. It is written for a general readership, and the book’s many personal reminiscences will bring the subject matter alive for an audience who may be familiar with much of this story.

Ivan Clutterbuck read Classics and Theology at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1939, and subsequently served as both an army and naval chaplain. He taught in several public schools and was Director of Religious Studies at Roedean School. From 1966-74 he was Organising Secretary of the Church Union. He is the author of Another Look at St John’s Gospel (CLA 1991) and has written for a number of religious periodicals. He is now retired and lives in Cornwall.