Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, A Nerd

Today the Episcopal Church remembers William Laud who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645 during the turbulent years of King Charles I. 

 

Alright, he was not very well liked; I’ll admit that. People considered him to be autocratic. The Puritans really did not like him.  Others thought he was a little bit too Catholic.  He was not a big fan of Calvinism and was considered to be a proponent of Arminianism (God’s sovereignty and human free will are compatible), and hold your breath, he was in favor of ecumenism. In short, Laud was a bit of a nerd.  Well, I am too, so I am rather partial to Archbishop Laud.

Archbishop Laud “was compassionate in his defense of the rights of the common people against the landowners. He was honest, devout, loyal to the king and to the rights and privileges of the Church of England. He tried to reform and protect the Church in accordance with his sincere convictions.” See https://gregorians.org/office/January 10, 2017.

Let us pray: Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.