Roger Greenacre – författare

The subject of this book by one of the Church of England’s most respected Anglo-Catholic priests could hardly be more central. The rekindling of devotion to Mary has been one of the many gifts of the Catholic movement to the Church of England, and there are few better exponents of it than Roger Greenacre. He was keen to foster a greater appreciation of Mary among Anglicans, as part of a renewed emphasis on the Church of England’s catholic identity and relationship with the wider Church. He traces the way that Mary has been perceived throughout Anglican history, from patterns of Marian devotion in the Middle Ages to her portrayal in today’s liturgical texts, and examines her role in ecumenical dialogue. In a selection of homilies he presents Mary to an Anglican and ecumenical audience. The book opens with a biographical account of Roger Greenacre’s life and work by his literary executor, Colin Podmore.

The rekindling of devotion to Mary has been one of the many gifts of the Catholic movement to the Church of England, and there are few better exponents of it than Roger Greenacre. Here he traces the way that Mary has been perceived throughout Anglican history, from the Middle Ages to today, and examines her role in ecumenical dialogue.

Part of One Church offers a classical understanding of the Church of England’s identity and its place as part of the ‘One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church’. Though not opposed in principle to women's ordination to the priesthood, Roger Greenacre articulates with creative courtesy the ecclesiological reasons why so many cannot accept its implementation in the Church of England when it lacks the consent of the wider Church. In doing so he addresses issues that remain topical and significant. Roger’s frame of reference is wide: his thinking and writing are deeply enriched by the Anglican tradition and his hope is that its distinctive heritage might be brought into communion with the Church Catholic.