We have just experienced an Easter like no other in the long history of the Christian faith. The Church of St. Michael & St. George believes that worship is at the heart of faithfulness and we have striven to offer the traditional liturgies over the internet. The Bishop of Missouri, in agreement with the Bishop-elect, has asked that worship in the churches be suspended through the month of May. He has included in his request that we not broadcast liturgies from inside the churches and so yesterday Easter worship happened in the Page Garden.
In England, the Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury has made the same request of churches in his province. And while there has never been an Easter like this, this is not the first time that the churches have been closed for Easter in England. Eight hundred years ago, long before Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the
Book of Common Prayer
, Pope Innocent III was locked in a rancorous quarrel with King John over who should be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Innocent’s candidate, Stephen Langton, had been elected by the chapter in Canterbury and was the foremost clergyman of the time. John resisted. Innocent III did not back down and eventually placed the whole nation under "interdict". This meant that all the churches were closed, services were stopped, and all rites were suspended save for baptisms which were allowed in private and the last rites at the time of death. An interesting coincidence is that, in 1208, Innocent issued his interdict on March 23, and March 23 is the day Boris Johnson placed the UK in lockdown. Proving once again that history may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. While Britain may be shuttered for as much as three months, Innocent's interdict lasted six years.
There are many in England who resent Archbishop Welby’s order to close the churches. Bishop Smith’s order here in Missouri has raised similar questions about authority and obedience, freedom and responsibility, community, and individualism, as have orders across this country. Our moratorium is in response to the threat of a communicable life threatening disease and has raised the question of how our individual actions can have significant and unintended consequences for the wider common good. We prize individuality but yearn for time together. We cherish our freedoms but recognize the need to sacrifice them.
Eight hundred years ago, King John eventually relented and Stephen Langton took his place as Primate of All England. Within a year, Langton was helping the barons negotiate the Magna Carta, establishing for the first time the supremacy of law, the limits to political authority and the rights of individuals. In all events, shutdowns have consequences.
I cannot imagine what six years without Easter, Ash Wednesday, Ascension Day, Pentecost, and Christmas would have been like and that is why I am already looking forward to next year when, God willing, we will all be gathered back in church again.
Andrew +
