Gracious God, who hast inspired a rich variety of ministries in thy Church: We offer thanks for Richard Meux Benson and Charles Gore, instruments in the revival of Anglican monasticism. Grant that we, following their example, may call for perennial renewal in thy Church through conscious union with Christ, witnessing to the social justice that is a mark of the reign of our Savior Jesus, who is the light of the world; and who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
These feast day threads hardly ever attract much attention, but I’ll venture a comment anyway. There are lots of the new provisional feast days for additional “holy women, holy men” that can be questioned, but not these two guys.
R. M. Benson+ was the founder of the SSJE, Society of St. John the Evangelist (a.k.a. “Cowley Fathers”), which is not only the oldest but the largest Anglican monastic group for men. Alas, it’s still teeny tiny. Sadder yet, the SSJE has succombed to the whole perversion of the gospel represented by the pro-gay ideology so fervently espoused by +Tom Shaw, former head of the American chapter of SSJE.
I used to be an Associate of SSJE for several years, making retreats b oth at the mother house in Cambridge (MA) and in Durham (NC, when that priory existed), but after I discovered to my dismay how liberal (and immoral) the order had become, I dropped out quickly.
But I admire +Charles Gore even more than Benson+. The illustrious former early head of Pusey House became the first English monk to be made a bishop since the Reformation (soon followed by Walter Frere). Not least, Gore led a group of academically-able theologians at Oxford in producing the landmark collection of influential essays, [b]Lux Mundi[/b], in 1889, that pioneered the responsible use of modern biblical and theological scholarship in the service of Catholic faith and order within the CoE. He is a hero figure to me.
Gore’s order, the illustrious Community of the Resurrection (CR, a.k.a. Mirfield Fathers), whose branch in South Africa played such a prominent part in the fight against apartheid, has fared much better than the SSJE in terms of retaining its spiritual health.
Sadly, both groups have never attracted many men into the monastic life. Too bad. If the essence of sainthood is “heroic sanctity” (as I think it is), then monasticism is a primary breeding ground for such heroic striving after spiritual wholeness and perfection. Neither Fr. Benson nor Bp. Gore were perfected souls, of course, but they were both certainly heroic figures, courageously promoting an ancient catholic way of life in an overwhelmingly Protestant CoE.
David Handy+
The SSJE in America abandoned their original rule written by Fr. Benson a while back, and now follow a benedictine rule, which also changed the entire charism of the order. Great Catholic parishes in ECUSA had SSJE rectors, such as S. Clement’s Philadelphia and Advent Boston. One of the great lights of the Anglo-catholic movement was a priest of the SSJE for a period of time, Bishop Grafton of Fond du Lac.
Thanks to both commenters above for the historical background on these two men — very helpful and informative! I’m sorry to hear what has become of the SSJE.
Thanks, Fr. Handy. When I saw that there was a comment on this post I knew it would be you! I always enjoy your informative comments that deepen my knowledge of, and appreciation for, the deep riches of our Anglican heritage.