Parish An Anglican Theology of Place

The Anglican parish is uniquely embedded in English culture and society, by virtue both of its antiquity and close allegiance with secular governance. Yet it remains an elusive and surprisingly overlooked theme, whose place', theologically, is far from certain. Whilst ecclesiastical history has long formed a pillar of academic training for ordained ministry, ecclesiastical geography has not contributing to the often uninformed assumptions about locality in contemporary church debate and mission strategy. At a time when its relevance and sustainability are being weighed in the balance and with plans progressing for the Church in Wales' abandonment of parochial organisation, there is an urgent need for a clear analysis of the parish's historical, geographical and sociological as well as theological significance."Parish" examines the distinctive form of social and communal life created by the Anglican parish: applying and advancing, the emerging discipline of place theology by filling a conspicuous gap in contemporary scholarship. Andrew Rumsey will help in forming a vision for the future of the English parish system, contribute towards the Church's strategy for parochial ministry and also inform the broader national conversation about localism' and cultural identity.Table of Contents: Part One - Christ in Our Place: The Anglican Parish in Theoretical Perspective Introduction1. Steadying Jacob's Ladder: A Place- Formation Cycle2. The Lord is Here: Towards a Christology of Place3. Sheer Geography: Spatial Theory and Parochial Practice Part Two - Common Ground: The Anglican Parish in History and Practice4. Another Country: Parish and the National Myth5. Good Fences: Parish as Neighbourhood6. A Handful of Earth: Parish, Landscape and Nostalgia Conclusion: A Kind of Belonging