5-English Reformed: Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504-1575)

Archbishop Parker by William Paul McClure Kennedy (London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., 1908).

Part Five. Parker’s call to the primacy. 109.

Observations:

1. McClure informs us of “possessing the whole history” of Parker’s call to Canterbury. It is to be noted that Rome has always impugned this consecration. It was Queen Eliabeth's first Archbishop of Canterbury.

2. Sir Nicholas Bacon, Council member, summoned Parker to London in December without advising Cecil. There was a friendship here. Parker had been in hiding in England during Mary's demonic attacks on the Catholic Church of England.

3. Parker sought to beg off due to ill-health and limited abilities. He wanted a post at Cambridge, amidst the scholars and the quietude of learning, afar from the daily business he feared would defined higher positions. This is truly the desire of scholars...a lovely way to live.

4. His heart was attached to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Born 1504. His BA, Cambridge, 1525; MA, 1538, BD, 1535; DD, 1538. He had been the Master there, 1544. He twice held the Vice-Chancellorship of Cambridge with good success. Parker installed Martin Bucer as the regius professor of divinity at Cambridge. Parker preached Bucer’s funeral, 1551. Who could deny these life-long connections and affections?

5. He did not want to “to be entangled in any respect of public living.” (110)

6. Cecil wrote to Parker, advising him that Queen Elizabeth wanted to see him in London. Nicholas wrote him with further correspondence noting the “weighty matters destined for him.”

7. Upon arrival in London, Parker preached at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He also learned of Elizabeth’s intention.

8. He was elected Archbishop of Canterbury 1 August 1559. (112)

9. McClure places Parker with “Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah,” that is, a shrinking back from the “difficult and ambiguous moments in the purposes of God.” We need to test this claim against the primary sources, Parker's own correspondence.

10. Upon assumption of his role, he was gentle, courageous, sincere, scholarly, and devoted to the national Church of England.

Correlations:

1. Bucer’s theology.

2. Parker’s relationship and knowledge of Trent, Calvin, Melachthon, Luther and others.

3. His general understanding of the Reformation and the trajectory for England.

Interpretation:

Parker shrunk from the call, but manfully embraced it—at least as outlined by McClure.

To be continued.

Part Five ended.

Part Six: 112, recommences with Parker’s concern for the Reformation at Cambridge.