Eucharist shaping

: church, mission and personhood in Gabriel Hebert’s liturgy and society

Abstract

This thesis considers Gabriel Hebert’s Liturgy and Society: The Function of the Church in the Modern World. It does so in the conviction that Hebert offers a continuing contribution to theological endeavour and practical ecclesiology.
The thesis identifies and explores three key themes emerging from Liturgy and Society which all contribute to Hebert’s central proposition that liturgy, principally the Eucharist, shapes Christian identity. The first theme is ecclesiology. This is significant because for Hebert the Church is indispensable in mission and her dogma is embodied in liturgy. The second theme is mission. Hebert’s examination of the function of the Church in the modern world has a missional character. The third theme is personhood. This theme comes from Hebert’s conception of what shapes persons through liturgy. I propose the notion of ‘liturgical anthropology’ as a way of articulating Hebert’s idea of personhood.
The thesis sets Hebert in context historically and theologically within the ‘Parish Communion Movement’ and twentieth century Anglican theology. Furthermore it takes Hebert beyond his original setting by analysing his work alongside contemporary writers on the three themes, demonstrating that he can be set in relation to contemporary writers in the fields of ecclesiology, mission and liturgical anthropology. In each area Hebert is a fruitful conversation partner in which his thought is elucidated by and resonates with other writers.
Whilst the influence of the Parish Communion Movement is still current in the Church of England, Hebert’s approach is not uncontested in the contemporary Church. Nonetheless the thesis demonstrates that his rejection of individualism, his recognition of the intimate relationship between mission and Church and his vision of the liturgical grounding of the practical and ethical consequences of the function of the Church in the modern world speak powerfully today.

Date of Award	1 Mar 2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	King's College London
Supervisor	Peter Ward (Supervisor), Oliver Davies (Supervisor) & James Steven (Supervisor)