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LANCELOT ANDREWES’ LIFE AND MINISTRY
A FOUNDATION FOR TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN PRIESTS

by

Orville Michael Cawthon, Sr.

B.B.A, Georgia State University, 1983

A THESIS

Submitted to the Faculty
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Arts in Religion
at Reformed Theological Seminary

Charlotte, North Carolina
September 2014
Accepted:

Thesis Advisor

______________________________
Donald Fortson, Ph.D.

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ABSTRACT
Lancelot Andrewes Life and Ministry
A Foundation for Traditional Anglican Priest
Orville Michael Cawthon, Sr.

This thesis explores Lancelot Andrewes’ life and ministry as an example for
Traditional Anglican Priests. An introduction and biography are presented, followed by an
examination of his prayer life, doctrine, and liturgy. His prayer life is examined through his
private prayers, via tract number 88 of the Tracts for the Times, daily prayers, and sermons.
The second evaluation made is of Andrewes’ doctrine. A review of his catechism is followed
by his teaching of the Commandments. His sermons are examined and demonstrate his
desire and ability to link the Old Testament and the New Testament through Jesus Christ and
a review is made through examining his sermons for the different church seasons. Thirdly,
Andrewes’ liturgy is the focus, as many of his practices are still used today within the
Traditional Anglican Church. His desire for holiness and beauty as reflected in his Liturgy is
seen, as well as his position on what should be allowed in the worship of God. His love for
the Eucharist is examined as he defends the English Church’s use of the term “Real
Presence” in its relationship to the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. The Prayer
Books and their relationship to his Liturgical practices are also discussed. A summary begins
with “preserving the traditional church” and the summarization following uses information
from this thesis and his sermons, as to how they can provide the Traditional Anglican Priest
defined by the words of the “The Form and Manner of Ordering Priests” with a foundation
from which a defense can be made against the liberal trends of today.
To Debbie
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CONTENTS

Chapter

1. INTROUCTION AND BIOGRAPHY……………………………………………...1

Post Reformation England…………………………………………………….. 4

Andrewes Early Years………………………………………………………….6

Education……………………………………………………………………….7

Cambridge Experience………………………………………………………....9

Defender of the Anglican Faith……………………………………………….13

Importance to Anglican Faith…………………………………………………17

King James I…………………………………………………………………..18

Hampton Court and King James Bible………………………………………..19

Genesis Translations Comparisons…………………………………………...22

2. PRAYER…………………………………………………………………………...25

Private Prayers…………………...……………………………………………26

Morning and Evening Prayer…………………………………………………27

Prayers for Each Day Of Week……………………………………………….28

Preparation for Public Worship……………………………………………….30

Sermons addressing Prayer Life………………………………………………32

Sermon One…………………………………………………………………...33

Sermon Two…………………………………………………………………..34

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Sermon Three…………………………………………………………………36

Prayer Overview………………………………………………………………37

3. Doctrine……………………………………………………………………………….40

Of Catechizing………………………………………………………………...40

Whether there be a God……………………………………………………….42

Whether God be a rewarder of Good and Evil………………………………..43

Whether Scripture be God’s Word……………………………………………44

Whether Scripture be truly founded on God’s Word…………………………44

The Commandments…………………………………………………………..47

Adam’s Fall…………………………………………………………………...48

First Commandment…………………………………………………………..49

Fifth Commandment…………………………………………………………..51

Sermons……………………………………………………………………….52

Sermon One…………………………………………………………………...52

Sermon Two…………………………………………………………………..55

4. Liturgy……………………………………………………………………………...60

Meditation and Reverence…………………………………………………….62

What should be allowed………………………………………………………65

Eucharist………………………………………………………………………67

The Book of Common Prayer………………………………………………...72

5. Application for the Anglican Priests..……………………………………………...75

Preserving the Traditional Church……………………………………………75

Defining Priest………………………………………………………………...81
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“in ye heart, that you are truly called”………………………………………...82

Scripture………………………………………………………………………84

Prayer………………………………………………………………………….85

Ministry……………………………………………………………………….88

Sacraments…………………………………………………………………….90

Priesthood……………………………………………………………………..93

Foundation for the Traditional Anglican Priest……………………………….94

6. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...96

Learning From Andrewes Prayers…………………………………………….97

Unchanging Doctrine…………………………………………………………98

Church Liturgy Retains Church Tradition…………………………………….99

Appendix...………………………………………………………………………………….101

BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………..102

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION AND BIOGRAPHY
Lancelot Andrewes’ life and ministry provides a foundation for the Traditional
Anglican Priest. His prayer life, doctrine, and liturgy all shared a commonality of discipline,
based upon scripture and early church tradition. He sought not new ideas and interpretations
but the foundation of the early church. His life and ministry is in contrast to the current tide
sweeping across the Church today as new ways and doctrines are being presented and
pursued.
The Methodist Church, for example, is drafting legislation that would change its
position on homosexuality and welcome LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered)
fully into the church.1 The Church of England ended one of its longest and most divisive
disputes recently with an overwhelming vote in favor of allowing women to become
bishops.2 As well, the top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. voted to
redefine Christian marriage in the church constitution as the union of "two people" instead of

1 O'Loughlin, Michael. “Methodist Church Considers Liberalization on LGBT Issues.” Advocate.Com.
May 4, 2014. Accessed July 25, 2014. http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/05/04/methodist-church-
considers-liberalization-lgbt-issues.

2 Matthew Knight. “Church of England Says Yes to Women Bishops,” NBC News Com, July 12,
2014, accessed July 25, 2014, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/55641737/ns/world_news-europe/t/church-england-
says-yes-women-bishops/.
1
2
only "a man and a woman."3 In the midst of these current conflicts within the Church, it is
necessary to hear from the voices of the past and to review their teachings.
Lancelot Andrewes helped guide the Church of England during the early post
Reformation period. He is famous for both his prayers and his sermons as they reflect
holiness of life. Andrewes’ liturgical practice is still evident within today’s traditional
Anglican Church.
The liberalization of today’s church stems in large part from the ministry itself.4 The
doctrines of the early church are not taught and defended from the attacks of the humanistic
world. New doctrines and interpretation of established doctrines do not bring up-to-date the
doctrines of old; rather, they establish a new religion that is not “Christian” according to how
the Church has defined itself for two thousand years. The need is urgent for the Church to
return to its foundational teachings.
As a theologian, Andrewes is not as well-known as say, the likes of Luther or Calvin;
however, his contributions to the Church of England were essential to maintaining and
solidifying traditional liturgy and doctrine. He lived during a difficult time period of the
Church. The division between the Puritan movement and that of the Roman Church put a
strain on England. It battled to keep the catholic, universal faith; while condemning the
Church of Rome, and struggled with the Protestant movement within the Church of England.

3 Carol Kuruvilla. “Presbyterian Church USA Will Allow Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies,” June 19,
2014, accessed July 25, 2014, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/presbyterian-church-u-s-takes-
major-step-gay-rights-article-1.1836691.

4 J Gresham Machen, The Christian Faith in the Modern World, Reprint ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1974, 1936), 65. Machen traces the problem back to the seminaries as he writes “many theological seminaries
today are nurseries of unbelief; and because they are nurseries of unbelief the churches that they serve have
become unbelieving churches too. As go the theological seminaries, so goes the church.”
3
The Church of England sought reformation, but one based on scripture as interpreted and
used by the early church.
Because few are aware of Andrewes, a look at his biography is necessary. Certain
trends and patterns shaped and guided his life and ministry. His work as a lead transcriber of
the King James Bible demonstrates a theme, which will be developed, that appears
throughout all of his work and within his prayer life, preaching, and liturgical practices. For
Andrewes, a great linguist,5 words would never be enough.
Andrewes’ prayer life made him who he was. When praying to God words were
insufficient, as a giving of one’s mind, body, and soul is required. This giving of oneself
requires humbleness as unworthiness pours forth, and the awesomeness and greatness of God
is revealed and received. His prayer life and words suggest that as he drew nearer to God the
more his own unworthiness was revealed. The intensifying of his awareness of his own sins
made him even more in need of a “Saviour,” Jesus Christ.
His teachings are found within the pages of his sermons and from other writings
which exemplify his apologetic work against Rome and others, and his catechism teachings
which focus on God and His Commandments, as well as a series of sermons on the Lord’s
Prayer. All of these writings reflect his leaning, the scripture, and the teachings of the early
Church Fathers, early councils and creeds. His efforts were directed towards returning the
Church to its original foundation.

5 T.S. Eliot, For Lancelot Andrewes Essays on Style and Order, (London: Faber & Gwyer, 1929), 17-
8. Eliot says, “Andrewes illustrates that determination to stick to essentials, that awareness of the needs of the
time, the desire for clarity and precision on matters of importance…breadth of culture, at ease with humanism
and Renaissance learning…the voice of a man who has a formed visible Church behind him, who speaks with
the old authority and the new culture.”