Letters to the Clergy on the Lord's Prayer and the Church

This volume assembles a series of letters written in the late 19th century by a renowned art critic and moral thinker to a gathering of Anglican clergy. Addressed to the Clerical Society, the correspondence uses the Lord’s Prayer as a springboard for probing the Church’s purpose and the pastor’s daily responsibilities. Each letter is followed by candid replies from both clergy and lay participants, and the whole collection is framed by editorial essays that provide context and commentary.

The tone is both probing and compassionate, urging ministers to discard complacent habits and to confront the harder path of true Christian service. By linking artistic sensibility with theological reflection, the letters invite readers to experience the Gospel not merely as doctrine but as a lived, transformative practice. The ensuing dialogue reveals a vibrant exchange of ideas, showing how nineteenth‑century concerns about faith, ethics, and community still echo today.

Edited for a third edition, the volume adds further letters and commentary, giving modern listeners a glimpse into a spirited theological conversation that continues to challenge and inspire.