The Relation of Confirmation to Baptism: A Mid-Twentieth Century Debate in the Church of England

grantor: University of St. Michael's CollegeThe subject of this dissertation is the debate in the 1940s and 50s in the Church of England about the relation of confirmation to baptism. The principal writings that formed the debate are by Dom Gregory Dix, a liturgical scholar and theologian, G. W. H. Lampe, a systematic theologian, and L. S. Thornton, a biblical exegete using typology to explain his theology. The debate was held within a context of a number of official Church of England committees that reported during the time. Chapter One describes the historical background from the break-up of a unified initiation rite through the Reformation until the 19th century renewal of interest in confirmation in the Church of England that produced some writings that were to influence the debate. The various committees surrounding the debate are examined as well as the theological comments their reports aroused. The next three chapters deal respectively with the writings of the three principals and include critical appraisals. Dix held that Christian initiation was not complete until the Holy Spirit had been given in confirmation. He relied on early liturgical material. Lampe maintained that the seal of the Spirit is an inward sign given in baptism and that it is full Christian initiation. Thornton replied specifically to Lampe's book. He challenged Lampe's biblical interpretation and gave his own view of a two stage initiation. Thornton made extensive use of typology in his biblical exegesis. Chapter Five is a short link with Lampe's reply to Thornton's challenge and it then closes the context with the last of the Church of England committee reports that surrounded the debate. The last chapter looks at how the participants in the debate saw possible changes in the Church of England initiation rites to accord with the theology they proposed. It is my view that but for the climate in the 1950s where radical changes in the Book of Common Prayer were not possible, the participants in the debate might have agreed on a theological definition of Christian initiation such as is contained in Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry of the World Council of Churches, and on a rite based on that theology.Ph.D