ATHANASIAN CREED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22476, 22 January 1935, Page 14

ATHANASIAN CREED

CANON H. R. L. SHEPPARD'S -•■ PROTEST. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 29. Canon H. R. L. Sheppard made a silent protest against the recitation of the Athanasian Creed at St. Paul's Cathedral on Christmas Day. '., . ~ When the rest of the clergy and the choir turned to the east for the creed, Dr Sheppard knelt in his place and so remained, until the creed was ended. This was the -first Christmas Day on which Dr Sheppard has attended St. Paul's in his capacity as canon. Christmas Day is one of the 13 church festivals on which the Athanasian Creed is ordered to be sung or said at Morning Prayer. The Revised Prayer Book of 1928 proposed a modification of the rubrics by which only a portion of the Athanasian Creed is assigned to Christmas Day. . ..'■•' V , . Canon Sheppard afterwards explained that his action was not due to any objection on his part to'the theology of the Athanasian Creed. . "I accept-it fully, for it is the most scriptural of the creeds," he said, "but I consider it quite unsuitable for use at such a service as that on Christmas morning at St. Paul's. A great number of 'simple people, who are not used to the ways of the church, and are not well instructed, come to the cathedral on Christmas Day. The Athanasian Creed needs so much explaining that I felt a reverent protest must be made against its use on such an occasion. A revised translation of the Athanasian Creed is printed in the 1928 Prayer Book "and is used in many churches. The opening words of the creed are: "Whosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled. without doubt he shall perish everlastingly." . .