Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: On Priesthood: Servants, Shepherds, Messengers, Sentinels and Stewards

An incredible read - or rather an incredible journey.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2020

This book is raw, emotional, thought provoking, comforting, relevant, and brings the reader to ponder things they are familiar and unfamiliar with. The Archbishop’s honest account of his early days were deeply honest. And through his openness the reader, be them an ordinance or priest (or just reading for interest) will be both comforted by Stephens own story but also pushed and inspired.

The book brings the ordinal to life and opens to us the ordination liturgy. As someone who has been to a few ordination services, it can sometimes feel that the words are just that - mixed in with law and affirmations. Bishop Stephen wonderfully explored the themes, giving them great meaning and relevance. I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you.

4 people found this helpful

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Mark Miller

A Beautiful Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2021

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I have just finished this book and this is one I'm happy to keep on my bookshelf for years to come!
It's not too short and not too long of a read. It is obviously written for those who are ordinands or those who believe they have been 'called' to the ministry - especially ordained ministry.
It breaks down the five characteristics of what duties the anglican priest is expecting to fulfill pastorally.
It certainly empowers the ordinand or the one considered for ordination in the Church of England with great confidence in his or her decision to be ordained in the Anglican church. It's a faith, church and ministry that takes itself seriously and the candidate should feel justified in being a 'member of the team' (not the best phrase but you get the point.)
As the Church of England is reformed (and catholic but I'm putting more emphasis on the former for the sake of argument) the book clearly demonstrates an alternative view to the priesthood. A rather raw, humble, feet on the ground approach. As opposed to the traditional, elaborate, sacerdotal medieval church before the Reformation. One has to understand the 'Anglican Identity' and the reason for why Archbishop Thomas Cranmer devised the Anglican Ordinal, challenging the all-powerful, establishment- embedded institution of the medieval church. Formulating a priesthood that was sacred but not unapproachable, speaking a liturgical language (latin) only understood by the initiated and those who were privileged the expensive education. Hardly any of this mentioned in the book but one must understand why a reformer such as Cranmer went through great lengths to justify a viable option and how rooted in scripture his mission was for the priesthood in a reformed church such as the Church of England.
The author makes this very clear and understands that "we do things differently here" as opposed to the Roman Catholic Church despite (what seems to be) his Anglo-catholic traditional background.
Having been someone who in my ordination discernment process was considering defecting to be a full-blown traditional catholic a year or two ago, this book and a few others helped me to confidently stay in the anglican church.
For those who have read the 'straw-man' arguments declared in the Papal Bull Apostolicae Curae in 1896 that the Anglican Orders are 'invalid' and 'null and void' - this book will certainly put such false remarks to bed!
Thomas Cranmer considered to be the 'Godfather of Anglicanism' has mapped out an alternative view to the priesthood in the Ordinal on a scriptural based foundation to preach to the world through the Word (scripture) and sacraments.
The author clearly understands the 'Anglican Way.'
This book is aimed for someone who 'gets it.' Understands its mission in the world. Its ardent love for teaching the people the gospel in the vernacular tongue and its sacramental theology in inviting the world to the heavenly banquet for Holy Communion.

I knew little or next to nothing of the new Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, but having read this, I'm intrigued to read the other books he's written.
In conclusion this book is a great manual to justify why the anglican priesthood is most certainly a viable option when it comes to serving Christ and worshipping God without claiming to be the only true church out there.

2 people found this helpful

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Cherry Smalley

Very good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2021

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Be amazed. The promise Priests Make at their ordination and what they mean are astounding. If they manage these they are truly people of god

2 people found this helpful

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Kat G-W

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2020

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I read this book in my deacon year whilst preparing for ordination as a priest. It was immensely helpful and prompted a great deal of fruitful reflection.

5 people found this helpful

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Sarah Beanie

So encouraging- my favourite new book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2021

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This book is so encouraging and is my favourite new read while I prepare for my BAP!

One person found this helpful

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oliveajohnson-cassell

A must have in your library.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2020

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Easy to ready.Good for anyone thinking about ordination.

5 people found this helpful

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Carol Phillips

T Q

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2021

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First class service no issues thank you

One person found this helpful

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SJMHM

easy read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2021

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great read, easy explanations - helps the journey towards priesthood

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plambert

Well written covers ordination well

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2020

Verified Purchase

Excellent book

2 people found this helpful

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David K.

Amidst read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2020

Verified Purchase

An excellent book. Easy to read and a must for any priest or those interested in a priests role

2 people found this helpful

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5 star		84%
4 star		11%
3 star		4%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		1%

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