1st Edition
Richard Baxter's Reformed Liturgy A Puritan Alternative to the Book of Common Prayer
The English Civil War and its aftermath was a time of human devastation, political uncertainty and religious instability. Amid the turmoil of those times, however, the Church of England also saw intense liturgical inventiveness. The Directory for Public Worship, Jeremy Taylor's Communion Office, and Richard Baxter's Reformed Liturgy, are all examples of resourceful liturgies born out of the ashes of the English Civil War. The Church of England had not witnessed such liturgical innovation since Thomas Cranmer, and would not see such creativity again until the end of the twentieth century - at least in terms of liturgical texts. In Richard Baxter's Reformation of the Liturgy, Glen J. Segger examines the theology and ecclesiology of Baxter’s liturgical opus. While never approved for public use, the Reformed Liturgy remains an important and creative liturgy representative of those who fought for their Puritan convictions, but lost.
Biography
Glen J. Segger received his PhD from Drew University (Madison, NJ) in 2008. The defence of his dissertation, 'Petition for Peace: A Theological Analysis of Richard Baxter's Reformed Liturgy in its Ecclesiological Context' earned him this degree with distinction.
"This is a careful, thorough, impartial, intelligent book situated well in a complex background; it deserves a wide audience." - Richard J. Mammana Jr., Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, The Episcopal Church
"Dr. Segger offers an insightful analysis of Richard Baxter's Reformed Liturgy, attending carefully to its historical context. He leaves the reader with a newfound appreciation for Baxter's liturgical creativity, originality, and subtlety." - James F. Turrell, Sewanee, University of the South, USA
"Richard Baxter’s Reformed Liturgy is an important contribution to both the study of early modern liturgy and the history of English religious controversy. It is a worthy and valuable addition to any library concerned with the same." - Reviews in History
