The Liturgical Calendar: The Church Remembers

Today the church remembers Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, 1626.

One of the brightest lights of seventeenth-century England was Lancelot Andrewes, beloved pastor to the court of King James I. Andrewes, a Cambridge graduate, was a tireless and accurate scholar, the master of some fifteen languages. Perhaps the best Hebraist of his day, he was chiefly responsible for translating the Old Testament of the King James Version of the Bible. As a young clergyman, his eloquent and erudite preaching attracted the attention of Queen Elizabeth I, who offered him the great bishopric of Salisbury and later of Ely. He declined both, but accepted the position of Dean of Westminster. Eventually, King James I persuaded him to take episcopal orders. He is best remembered as the saintly Bishop of Winchester.

Andrewes had profound insight into human nature and compassion for human weakness. He was a versatile and liberal pastor and had little use for the harshness and austerity of Calvinism, so popular in the British Isles in his day. His book, Private Devotions, still enjoys perennial popularity.

Help us to follow the good examples of your servant Lancelot, and of all those who love and serve you. Amen.

Read the Wikipedia article here.

Lord and Father, our King and God, by your grace the Church was enriched by the great learning and eloquent preaching of your servant Lancelot Andrewes, but even more by his example of biblical and liturgical prayer: Conform our lives, like his, to the image of Christ, that our hearts may love you, our minds serve you, and our lips proclaim the greatness of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

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