Crockford's Clerical Directory is the 94-year-old (but unofficial) Who's Who of the Church of England. By custom, each new edition carries an anonymous preface, commenting on the state of the world and the church. Last week the new Crockford's was out, and its preface had churchmen—particularly high churchmen—smarting under their clerical collars.
"The Church," lamented Crockford's anonymous preface writer, "is unable to attract people to listen to the gospel . . . [Its preaching] is like a safety match, effective only on specially prepared surfaces . . . The multiplication of bishops (fewer clergy and smaller congregations apparently needing more oversight, on...
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