There is an immensely rich tradition of writing from the Anglican tradition that has helped to form the spirituality and theology of the contemporary church. This major new work draws together the writings of most of the major writers from the sixteenth century to the present day who have contributed to this development. Each writer is introduced briefly, and then extracts from major works are reproduced, with clear guides to the source texts from which the material has been drawn.

The books of Ezekiel and Daniel are rich in imagery that is taken up afresh in the New Testament. Echoes of Ezekiel-with its words of doom and hope, vision of a new temple, and scroll-eating prophet-are especially apparent in the book of Revelation. Daniel is most notable in supplying terminology and imagery for Jesus of Nazareth's favored self-description as "Son of man," a phrase also found in Ezekiel. The four beasts of Daniel find their counterparts in the lion, ox, man, and eagle of Ezekiel and Revelation. It is no wonder these books, despite the difficulties in interpreting them, took hold on the imagination of the early church. In this Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture volume, over forty church fathers are cited in the commentary on Ezekiel, some of whom are here translated into English for the first time, but pride of place goes to four significant extant works: the homilies of Origen and Gregory the Great, and the commentaries of Jerome and Theodoret of Cyr, thus bridging East and West, North and South. A similar array of fathers are found within the commentary on Daniel. Extensive comments derive from the works of Theodoret of Cyr, Hippolytus, Jerome, and Isho'dad of Merv, providing a wealth of insight.

This informative and inspirational guide to the principal festivals and major holy days of the Christian year is essential reading for all those with responsibility for planning or leading worship. Exploring the biblical readings and prayers for forty principal festivals and holy days, and tracing their liturgical and historical development through the centuries, All the Company of Heaven brings alive many treasures from our Christian past and offers creative suggestions for celebrating these festivals today.

The receiving and handing on of Christian tradition always entails adaptation and re-configuration for the reception to be useful. These essays exemplify many facets of this 'handing on', from the Lord's Prayer, through sermons on and expositions of the Transfiguration, to the contributions of divines from Peter Chrysologus to Lancelot Andrewes and Michael Ramsey. In Kenneth Stevenson's words, they show 'worship and theology living at ease' - words that also encapsulate his own life and work in Church and academy.' Bryan D. Spinks, Goddard Professor of Liturgical Studies and Pastoral Theology Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School 'This collection of essays is Kenneth Stevenson at his very best - showing a breadth and depth of theological and liturgical scholarship that few can equal, from New Testament texts and patristic homilies to classic figures of seventeenth-century Anglicanism and beyond. And yet all of this applied with a lightness of touch and with a pastoral sensitivity shaped by the years of his own ministry.' Paul Bradshaw, Professor of Liturgy, University of Notre Dame 'Kenneth Stevenson's last book reads as the quintessential autobiography of a questing, restless, puckish scholar - a series of studies linking his chosen areas of liturgical scholarship, biblical interpretation, and the insights of the Caroline divines, all shot through with those humbling insights on the glory of transfiguration, brought him by his final, fatal illness. Si monumentum requiris, tolle et lege.' David Stancliffe, liturgical scholar and former Bishop of Salisbury Kenneth Stevenson was until autumn 2009 Bishop of Portsmouth. He died in January 2011. His books include The Lord's Prayer: A Text in Tradition, Take, Eat: Reflections on the Eucharist and Watching and Waiting: A Guide to the Celebration of Advent.

The eucharist is one of the central acts of worship for Christians - some would say the most important. Yet within the many traditions of Christianity, there appears to be no united voice -even in an age like ours in which ecumenical agreements unthinkable until recently have sought convergence and achieved it. Anglicans have often been described as occupying a 'middle ground' between Catholics and Protestants. They have even been criticised for being woolly! In this well-presented and readable book, two scholars have set out to chart an Anglican course through the key-areas of eucharistic presence and sacrifice - how Jesus is present at the Supper and how the celebration relates to the self-offering of Christ. They quote many authors from different viewpoints over the past four hundred years - including poets. They tell a story that is rich and varied. And they make accessible to a fresh generation what it means to define, sift, probe and discuss the meaning of the Holy Communion, yet still hold on to that vital aspect of all Christian belonging and living - the mystery of Christ Himself.

"Anglican Marriage Rites", edited by the late Kenneth Stevenson, offers three papers on issues relating to marriage and liturgy in the Anglican Communion. An essay by Kenneth Stevenson sets the scene and provides the necessary background. In two further essays Thomas Cooper and Philip Tovey explore some relevant theological, cultural and liturgical issues. The essays in this issue of "JLS" formed the basis for the discussions at the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation in Canterbury in August 2011.

The Eucharist is central to Christian worship throughout the world. Jesus only left two commandments - to love God and our neighbour, and to share bread and wine in remembrance of him. It is a sacrament rich in symbol and image that takes everyday items and infuses them with spiritual meaning. In this short, reflective companion, Kenneth Stevenson explores some of the Eucharist's many layers of meaning - as sacrifice, memorial, sustenance for the Christian journey, sign of the new creation, anticipation of the heavenly feast - and more. As a basic guide, he uses the Gospel of Luke in which feeding is a particularly strong theme. Taking well known stories such as Jesus eating with sinners, feeding the five thousand, the Last Supper and the evening meal at Emmaus after the resurrection, he grounds our understanding of the Eucharist in scripture and shows how it can shape our entire Christian experience. It is an ideal gift for baptism, confirmation or first communion.

Awareness of the liturgical seasons of the year has increased greatly in recent years, as the popularity of the "Common Worship Times and Seasons" volume has illustrated. Churches are constantly looking for ways to enrich their seasonal celebrations, and the first point of better celebration is better understanding. Of all the seasons, Advent is the least understood, the least studied. An entirely Western phenomenon without much of a preaching or liturgical tradition, it is characterised as much by its folk customs - the advent wreath and the Feast of St Nicholas - as by its biblical themes. Here is a book that helps to create a fuller theology of Advent. Kenneth Stevenson characteristically draws on biblical, historical and liturgical evidence to show how the churches have understood and kept Advent down the centuries, and finds that the season has much to say to contemporary concerns in today's church and world, from how we do mission to Richard Dawkins' brand of atheism and a surprising number of issues in between.

To Join Together is a study of the Roman Rite of Marriage wherein historical liturgical practice celebrated three stages: betrothal, luminality, and incorporation. These stages, though they faded from the liturgy, continue to maintain a lively existence in family life. Dr. Stevenson calls for a return to the three-stage ritual celebration and offers specific recommendations for their incorporation into the Roman Rite of Marriage.

The books of Ezekiel and Daniel are rich in imagery taken up afresh in the New Testament. Echoes of Ezekiel--with its words of doom and promises of hope, the vision of a new temple and its scroll-eating prophet--are especially apparent in the book of Revelation. Daniel is most notable in supplying terminology and imagery for Jesus of Nazareth's favored self-description as "Son of man," a phrase also found in Ezekiel and one which John the seer employs repeatedly in describing the exalted figure of his vision on the island of Patmos. The four beasts of Daniel find their counterparts in the lion, ox, man and eagle of Ezekiel and Revelation. It is no wonder these books, despite the difficulties in interpreting them, took hold on the imagination of the early church. Over forty church fathers are cited in the commentary on Ezekiel, some of whom are here translated into English for the first time, but pride of place goes to four significant extant works: the homilies of Origen and Gregory the Great, and the commentaries of Jerome and Theodoret of Cyr, thus bridging East and West, North and South. A similar array of fathers are found within the commentary on Daniel. Extensive comments derive from the works of Theodoret of Cyr, Hippolytus, Jerome and Isho'dad of Merv and provide a wealth of insight. Valuable commentary attributed to Ephrem the Syrian and John Chrysostom is also found here, though the authorship of these commentaries is indeed questioned. Michael Glerup and Kenneth Stevenson edit this collection.