Today the Church of England commemorates the memory of Richard Hooker (25 March, 1554 – 3 November 1600), whom many regard as the founder of Anglicanism. Ah, I already hear cries of ‘that was Henry VIII’. It was certainly Henry who broke with Rome but the nature of the Church of England was not decided then, or indeed across the next century and a half; it was contested.

In Henry’s reign the break with Rome was complete in terms of politics and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but well before his death, theologically he had rowed back against some of the more extreme claims made by those who saw themselves as disciples of Luther and Calvin. These Protestants made greater strides under the young Edward VI, before being decisively checked by his half-sister Mary, who returned England to obedience to Rome. But her half-sister, Elizabeth I, steered a way between the two extremes. But that was in many ways a political strategy rather than an ecclesiastical solution.

Oddly, Hooker’s great eight volume “Of the Laws of Ecclesiatical polity”, only four volumes were published in his lifetime, and then toward the end. They were taken up by the Laudian party in the Church, who wanted to emphasise the catholic heritage and saw his arguments against the Puritans as great ammunition – which indeed they are. It was during this period that the other volumes were published, but it was not until the Restoration of Charles II that Hooker came into his own, as his work was cited by those wishing to establish a middle way between papism and puritanism.

I am not even going to pretend that I have read the eight volume, but I have read and would encourage anyone interested to read the selection edited by Raymond Chapman. Once you get used to sentences with 200 words, he makes great reading, and his style is very much the man – and the Church. He treats his opponents with respect, and dismantles extremism very skilfully. He represents the temper of English Christianity, not too much emphasis on individual reason, and not too much emphasis on docility to authority.

Hooker’s legacy, like Newman’s, was his work, and it is what has been received by posterity which has marked him out. He was a man of faith who steered his way through parlous times. His legacy is one all Anglicans should treasure. Let me finish with the Collect for today from Common Worship:

God of peace, the bond of all love,

who in your Son Jesus Christ have made the human race your inseparable dwelling place:

after the example of your servant Richard Hooker,

give grace to us your servants ever to rejoice in the true inheritance of your adopted children

and to show forth your praises now and ever;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.