Church of England Record Society facts for kids

The Church of England Record Society is a special group that helps people learn about the history of the Church of England. It's like a club that publishes old documents and writings. This society started in 1991.

Every year since 1994, they have published a new book. Their very first book was about rules and instructions for churches in the early Stuart period. The society is also a registered charity, which means it's a non-profit organization that does good work.

What the Society Does

The Church of England Record Society is known as a text publication society. This means its main job is to find, edit, and publish important historical texts. These texts might be old letters, diaries, official church documents, or other writings that tell us about the past.

By publishing these documents, the society makes it easier for students, historians, and anyone interested to study the history of the Church of England. It helps preserve these important records for future generations.

Why Old Documents Matter

Old documents are like time capsules. They give us a direct look into how people lived, thought, and practiced their faith many years ago. For example, the society has published books about:

• Rules and instructions for churches from long ago.
• Letters from important bishops.
• Diaries that show daily life.
• Records of church meetings and decisions.

These publications help us understand how the Church of England changed over hundreds of years. They show us how it faced challenges and adapted to different times.

Examples of Published Works

The society has published many interesting books over the years. Here are a few examples of the kinds of topics they cover:

Books from the 1990s

• Visitation Articles and Injunctions of the Early Stuart Church: This book, published in two volumes, shares the rules and instructions given to churches during the time of early Stuart kings (like King James I and King Charles I).
• The Speculum of Archbishop Thomas Secker: This book looks at the records of an Archbishop of Canterbury from the mid-1700s.
• Brethren in Adversity: This publication explores how Bishop George Bell and the Church of England helped German Protestants during the difficult years of 1933–1939.
• The Anglican Canons, 1529–1947: This book collects the official laws and rules of the Church of England over a long period.

Books from the 2000s

• Tudor Church Reform: This volume discusses changes made to the church during the Tudor period, especially under King Henry VIII.
• All Saints Sisters of the Poor: This book tells the story of a group of Anglican nuns in the 1800s.
• The Diary of Samuel Rogers, 1634–1638: This gives a personal look into life in the 1600s through someone's diary.
• The British Delegation and the Synod of Dort, 1618–19: This publication looks at a major church meeting in the Netherlands and the role of British representatives.
• The Beginning of Women's Ministry: This book explores how women started to take on more active roles in the Church of England in the 1800s.

Books from the 2010s

• The Diary of Thomas Larkham, 1647–1669: Another diary that offers insights into a different period of history.
• From the Reformation to the Permissive Society: This book celebrates the 400th anniversary of Lambeth Palace Library, a very old and important library.
• National Prayers. Special Worship since the Reformation: These two volumes collect special prayers, fasts (days of not eating), and thanksgivings used in the British Isles from the 1500s to the 1800s. They show how the church responded to important national events.
• The Journal of Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta, 1845-1857: This journal provides a look at the life of a bishop serving in India in the mid-1800s.
• The Further Correspondence of William Laud: This book shares more letters from William Laud, an important Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1600s.

These publications help us understand the rich and complex history of the Church of England and its role in society over many centuries.