Advancing true religion through the instruction of youth

One of the most important and basic explanations of the Christian Faith as
received and understood in the reformed Church of England was Alexander
Nowell’s The Large Catechism, written in Latin. This was translated into
English as, A Catechism or first Instruction and Learning of Religion, by
Thomas Norton and published in 1570. This book was approved and commended
for use in schools, colleges and parishes by the Archbishops and Bishops of
the C of E.

What follows is part of a paragraph from the Preface:

“Now surely there are no greater means of advancing true religion and
rooting out of errors than these two, that is to say, catechism or good
instruction of youth, and good information of ecclesiastical ministers in
sound truth, and the proofs thereof, howsoever perhaps they may lack some
full furniture of other learnings.”

Here Norton makes the following claims:

1. There are two principal means by which the Christian Faith is advanced
and errors are rooted out.
2. One of these means is the use of catechism, which is the instructing of
youth in the Faith.
3. The other is by the presence in the Church of clergy who have good
knowledge of Christian truth and the scriptural basis for it, even if they
are not highly educated in Latin & Greek & Philosophy and other subjects.

Norton proceeds in the same paragraph to write these words:


“I have long thought it a much better way towards removing of heresies and
superstitions (whereof Rome hath brought us and left us plenty) to deal
first with the plain setting out of truth as not in controversy, without
dealing at the beginning with the strife of confutation. For so both
discretion and charity in the teacher is easilier kept, and truth once being
settled, error will fall of itself, so that he which hath once with
conference of God’s word conceived a certain and stayed judgement of truth,
shall either wonder how absurd errors have been received, or shall with less
peril hear them talked of.”

Here Norton offers some observations on the best way to teach the Christian
Religion:

1. It is better in the first place to present Christian truth objectively on
its own basic terms rather than as arising out of contemporary or recent
controversies in the Church.
2. The teacher is more likely to remain careful and charitable if he is
following this method and not emotionally moved by the heat of controversy.
3. Once the student has grasped the truth and is studying God’s word he will
see the errors and know they are wrong and to be avoided.

The Catechism, translated with great skill by Norton, was intended to do for
the Church of England what Luther’s and Calvin’s Catechisms had done and
were doing for the Evangelical [Lutheran] and Presbyterian/Reformed
[Calvinist] Churches of Europe. Like them it is an extended commentary upon
the Creed, the Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer, with instruction also in
the nature and meaning of the Sacraments.

To read it is a very satisfying experience, but only if one is patient and
truly keen to know what was taken as basic Christianity by the senior
pastors in the reformed Church of England in the Elizabethan age.

What seems clear to me is that there was a much, much greater expectation of
what those being prepared for Confirmation could, should and ought to know
and believe than there is today. In fact the contents of Nowell’s book
represent, I think, a far greater and deeper knowledge of the Christian
Faith than is present in many of those who have been through seminary and
are being ordained to the diaconate.

The Catechism in the classic Book of Common Prayer (1662 – see also the BCP
1928 in the USA) is very basic and short and its content may be seen as the
very minimum of what should be known by those who are confirmed as young
adults or adults. [In fact Nowell also wrote A Middle Catechism in Latin
which Norton also translated into English and this shorter Catechism was
very popular in England during the 17th Century, and like The Large
Catechism was reprinted of and on into the 19th century]

Since Luther’s Catechisms and also several from the Reformed Churches of the
16th Century are easily available today in modern English, it is a matter of
regret and of doctrinal/spiritual loss that this important approved Church
of England [Large] Catechism by Nowell is not also available in modern
English. It is printed in Latin and English as one of the volumes of the
Parker Society from the 19th Century. As a modern paperback in readable
format it would come out at about 140 or so pages.

With the help of Irene Teas and of John Graves I hope to put the Catechism
in its 16th century wording and layout on the website of the Prayer Book
Society soon --- www.episcopalian.org/pbs1928. But what I would also
like to do is to render the text into modern English and have it published
as a paperback . Then modern Episcopalians and Anglicans would be able to
ascertain, by following the questions and answers, what was considered
reformed Catholic or true Protestant & Anglican wholesome doctrine and
practical godliness by the pastors of the flock of Christ in England.

I think that if sincere Christian people were to read it today they would
really wonder why it is that so little exposition of sound doctrine and
exhortation to true godliness are being made in the modern Church. Perhaps
it is that we are in a high experientialist age in the West and we like to
feel the reality of divine things rather than to know them in the mind and
allow them as digested to enter the heart.

This project would cost approximately $6,000.00 [six thousand] for
typesetting and printing of 2,000 copies. Then there would be other
expenses involved in the arduous task of retyping it into modern English
prose. If anyone is interested in this project and of helping find the
finance or publisher for such a venture then please contact me at
ptoon@ont.com

Also, the text in modern English could be made available digitally as a disc
so that those who wish to teach Catechism using modern technology can do so.
I have little expertise here but I see great potential in a careful use of
modern technology.

The Rev’d Dr. Peter Toon, President of the Prayer Book Society of the USA,
June 19, 2001