Chadwick was a master of the art. Unlike lesser men who attempted these skills, however, his labours were inspired by honesty of purpose and an apparently genuine conviction that the Anglican Communion had an unassailable integrity.
The limits to his methods, on the other hand, became apparent at meetings of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, in its sessions between 1969 and 1981, and again from 1983 to 1990, when the Anglican penchant for resolving differences by devising accommodations based upon ambiguous verbal formulations had limited effect on the professionals of the Vatican.
Early successes at agreement were over simpler differences; when it came to ecclesiology, to the nature of religious authority, the Anglican methods proved sterile. Chadwick was personally disappointed: an important aspect of what he had correctly seen as a life’s work had driven itself into the sands. He always treasured a vestment which the Pope had given him.
Chadwick lived through huge changes in both the great institutions he served ”“ learning and the Church. He adapted with astonishing ease, especially in view of his seemingly inherent traditionalism.
This is a great quote – profoundly truthful and so bearing witness to both the greatness and the tragedy that has been the Church of England.
He was a contemporary of my father Gerald (five years his junior). May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
See also the [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/19/religion]Guardian obituary[/url] by The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams.
Well spoken, driver8.
Professor Chadwick was in residence for a short time at the university where I worked as a librarian. It was a privilege and a delight to know and serve him. Rest eternal grant O Lord …
He was kind to me as a young research student at Oxford.