Author Tom Clammer
Publisher SCM £65 2019
Format hbk
ISBN 9780334058229
Evil and the devil in the Church of England’s Liturgy
This is an admirable book – clear, well-written, with many useful cross-references for those who need to delve more deeply. It deals comprehensively with the theology of evil, with special reference to the liturgies, ancient and modern, of the Church of England. Tom Clammer is a priest, theologian and spiritual director, and this is an accessible version of his doctoral thesis. He considers how our liturgies raise key questions about the power of evil, and the relationships between Christian practice and those powers. He uses, for example, the principle that our liturgy is, generally speaking, the ‘presumed repository’ for sound doctrine, but if concerns arise then the questions should be referred back to scripture and, if necessary, to the early Fathers such as Clement and Polycarp. The book contains important chapters on healing and deliverance (including exorcism), and these are backed by sturdy and helpful references to scripture. At the heart of the book is a penetrating analysis of Christian initiation, with a focus on the baptismal text which provides his title: ‘Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ against sin, the world and the devil…’ This wording has been in constant use since Cranmer’s first prayer book of 1549, although some new liturgies (e.g. Common Worship Alternative Texts) now omit reference to ‘the devil’, so renunciation of the devil by name is no longer a requirement. As Clammer notes, this causes some ambiguity, or lack of clarity, and it may be a source of confusion for some who are being prepared for adult baptism. Readers who are involved in such pastoral preparations may find reference to chapter 5 of the book especially helpful. That said, the book will not prove particularly useful for most Readers in their day-to-day ministries; and it is also expensive for individual purchase. Some team ministries may want to invest in a copy, but it is especially recommended for theological libraries. The review copy has therefore been donated to such a library.
PETER CLOUGH
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