Western Canon Law
eBook - ePub

Western Canon Law

  1. 92 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

Western Canon Law

About this book

Western Canon Law by R. C. Mortimer offers a clear and authoritative introduction to the history, principles, and continuing legacy of ecclesiastical law in Western Christendom. Based on a series of lectures delivered at the University of California in 1951, Mortimer—then Bishop of Exeter and former lecturer in early canon law at Oxford—traces the development of canon law from its beginnings through the Reformation, with special attention to its shaping influence on the Church of England. Distinguishing Western trajectories from the largely independent Eastern tradition, Mortimer shows how ecclesiastical jurisprudence grew alongside the wider culture of Europe, embedding both theological commitments and pragmatic governance within the life of the church. The result is a succinct yet wide-ranging overview that illuminates how law, theology, and history intersect in Christian practice.

Alongside this historical sketch, Mortimer devotes his final lectures to the fate of canon law in England since the Reformation, outlining what has endured, what has lapsed, and what reforms were being actively considered in the mid-twentieth century. He reflects on the distinctive nature of canon law, contrasting it with secular jurisprudence, and highlights the principles that should guide future ecclesiastical legislation. Written for Anglican ordinands, clergy, and lay readers but relevant to students of church history more broadly, Western Canon Law addresses the long-standing neglect of a field vital to understanding Christian institutional life. By situating legal developments within their historical contexts, Mortimer provides both a practical resource and a compelling argument for why canon law matters to the health and integrity of the church today.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1953.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription.
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn more here.
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
  • Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
  • Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Both plans are available with monthly, semester, or annual billing cycles.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1 million books across 1000+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn more here.
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more here.
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS or Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access Western Canon Law by R. C. Mortimer in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Theology & Religion & Christian Canon & Ecclesiastical Law. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. PREFACE
  5. CONTENTS
  6. I THE GROWTH OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION
  7. II CHAOS AND REFORM
  8. III THE CREATION OF THE CORPUS
  9. IV THE CANON LAW IN ENGLAND AFTER THE REFORMATION
  10. V THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CANON LAW
  11. BIBLIOGRAPHY