According to whom? Glad you asked:
“With the exception of William Temple, John Stott is the most influential clergyman in the Church of England of the twentieth century”.
–David Edwards, Essentials
John Stott is the 2nd most influential clergyman in the Church of England of the 20th century
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William who?
William Temple, one of the two great archbishops of Canterbury, along with blessed Michael Ramsey, of the 20th century. He was a towering pastoral and theological figure, even though he didn’t serve long before his death during WW2. He’s not so well known among folks in the pews outside Britain as Stott, but doesn’t need to be in order for his influence, like Ramsey’s, to permeate the church. May they all rest in peace, and pray for us.
Well, yes, I do know who Temple was. I incline to think his influence was more political-social than religious.
From the vantage point of some years, I don’t see what was so great about Michael Ramsey. The C of E went into a tailspin in his day, as John Robinson spouted heresy and many lost their way in the 60s.
Isn’t the key word “influential”? I’m sure there are some people who count Temple and Stott as equally positive influences, but in practice most are going to plump for one over the other (I’m not saying that they’re right to do so).
Outside academia, both probably bequeathed a more lasting legacy than Ramsey to the wider Church.