Day 2: Notes on a summer school

Monday 20 July was the second day of the summer school course “Anglicanism in European Perspective” at the University of Utrecht. AIB Interm-Principal and Registrar were present for lectures and services.

The day began with Bible study in small groups. Karen, the Registrar belonged to a group fondly named ‘Clogs!’ (the exclamation point intentional).

Then, off to the classes at Utrecht University. The first lectures from Prof. Charlotte Methuen revolved around (i) Early Christianity in the British Isles; ii) Strands of the Reformation I: English Reformation to the Elizabethean Settlement, iii) Strands of the Reformation II: Scottish Episcopalianism and the colonial spread of Anglicanism.

Prof. Kathy Grieb spoke about “Key Turning Points” in the history of global Anglicanism such as Richard Hooker, The Puritans, Bishop Colenso and the Traditionalists.

By the afternoon, Karen reflected:

“To start with the history of Anglicanism in a summer school can be a bit challenging due to the amount of information one has to sludge through. However, as the lectures from Prof. Charlotte Methuen and Dr. Grieb moved through places and times, I began to see that in order to understand the Anglican tradition, one must scratch the surface of popular/simplistic foundational narratives (e.g., Henry VIII wanting a divorce, Augustine of Canterbury “bringing” Christianity to the British Isles, etc.) and get to the complex and often ‘messy’ stuff of human events and communities.”

Then, the group had a service of Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, followed by a lovely supper provided by In de Driehoek. The day closed with a simple, but lovely boat tour through the canals of Utrecht.