Cranmer on the Grand

By Andrew Nussey

Wading into another illuminating Cranmer Conference. Photo: Sue CarelessYoung Anglicans gathered for the Cranmer Conference in Dunnville, on the Grand River in southwestern Ontario May 22 to 24 for four reasons: the worship, the speakers, the food and the fun. And they were certainly not disappointed. This was the second of its kind; the first took place in 2006.

Andrew Dunning, 21, found the Conference both “enlightening and enjoyable.” This was his first time, and he didn’t know what to expect, but he plans to return next year and would “wholeheartedly” recommend it to others.

“The conference vividly illustrated to me how prayer can unite a community. Although there were people there from right across the spectrum, from Evangelicals to Anglo-Catholics, we were able to come together and worship God in the same words every day, even after a heated discussion. It was very refreshing to meet a group of people that listened seriously not only to one another, but also to those in the past whose ideas we have inherited, realizing that they just might be able to give us a deeper perspective. The conference demonstrated to me how the Book of Common Prayer teaches us to integrate the thoughts and prayers of the past with our own, transcending time and ideologies."

Dunning will be starting a Master's degree in Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto in September.

“One of the most surprising experiences for me personally was simply reading together the words of the Te Deum. It communicates this fantastic vision of the universe that I cannot imagine would ever be written today, but is still as powerful now as it was when it was written so many centuries ago. Yet, somehow, I had never actually heard it before in English. I have never been to a church that consistently celebrated Matins, and have come to realize that this is rather a loss.”

The main feature of the conference was ongoing seminars with renowned Canadian theologian, Lt.-Col., the Rev. Canon Dr. Gary Thorne who is Chaplain of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University. Dr. Thorne led the university-aged participants to understand how Thomas Cranmer and his “Prayer Book,” the defining liturgy of the Anglican Church, is based clearly on the doctrine of Justification by Faith: we love God and neighbour simply for the sake of love—we do not do “good” in an effort to gain or achieve God’s favour. Our ongoing confession is merely our human response to God’s unmerited love for us—we know we are loved by God and we respond to that love faithfully. This doctrine is reflected within the traditional Anglican liturgy.

Sarah Hogarth, 22, is entering her first year of the PhD program in philosophy at the University of Western Ontario this September. She had attended the first conference and returned this year bringing two friends. Hogarth found the Cranmer conferences "superb” weekends, a “wonderful opportunity to explore various facets of traditional and historical Anglicanism, both through academically-oriented teaching, and through the experience of worship and prayer.”A particular highlight for her was Dr. Thorne’s teaching. “Fr Thorne's deep love for God and passion for the Gospel transforms his lessons on historical theology into things of profound inspiration and power.”

The conference was based at St. Paul’s Church, where the rector, the Rev’d Paul Sherwood, supplied not only warm hospitality but plenty of fair trade tea and coffee. The weekend began with a wine and cheese reception followed by extraordinary meals including a picnic lunch of wraps on the beach and breakfasts of waffles and sausage.

Dr. William Renwick, professor of music at McMaster University, directed the Hamilton Schola Cantorum for the opening Choral Evensong. The next day, during an afternoon outing to Christ Church, Port Maitland and its neighbouring Lake Erie beach, Dr. Renwick led a workshop on the Great Litany of 1544 that was prayed during Henry VIII’s reign. Sue Careless, Senior Editor of this publication, was the banquet speaker that night and focused on the wedding service from her soon-to-be-published third volume in the “Discovering the Book of Common Prayer” series.

Worship services were from the Book of Common Prayer, accompanied at times by brief homilies which offered simple challenges using contemporary references.

In September Aaron James, 22, will be studying organ performance at the Eastman School of Music. He was particularly pleased with the practical focus of the conference, especially in Dr. Thorne's talks. “Beyond simply delving into the historical background of the BCP, we looked at some of the deeply-rooted theological issues that underlie the liturgy, and how these might affect our own lives.” James would happily recommend the conference to friends since it was “a perfect demonstration that the way the Church prays affects the entirety of its belief.”

Was it worth attending? You bet. Plans for a third Cranmer Conference in 2010 are already underway.

Andrew Nussey was chaplain at the Cranmer Conference 2009 and is Assistant Editor of the Anglican Planet.