Proposed Surrender of the Prayer-Book and Articles of the Church of England A Letter to the Lord Bishop of London on Professor Stanley's Views of Clerical and University "Subscription"

This work presents a measured plea from a senior Anglican cleric to the Bishop of London, urging him to resist a growing movement that seeks to abandon the long‑standing requirement that clergy affirm the Book of Common Prayer and the Articles of Religion. Drawing on personal experience, historical precedent and a careful reading of contemporary university debates, the author challenges the claim that mandatory subscription is a widespread grievance, arguing instead that the practice preserves doctrinal steadiness and communal confidence. He also critiques the arguments of a prominent professor, suggesting that the evidence cited for a sweeping “relaxation” is limited and that the proposed reforms risk unsettling the church’s settled order.

The letter weaves together reflections on the post‑Glorious Revolution attempts at “Comprehension,” the role of bishops in safeguarding orthodoxy, and the balance between intellectual freedom and ecclesiastical unity. By framing the controversy as a matter of prudent stewardship rather than radical innovation, the author invites readers to glimpse the earnest, often personal, conversations that shaped mid‑Victorian Anglican identity.