Peter Toon
Encyclopedia
Peter Toon was a priest
and theologian, and an international advocate of traditional Anglicanism
.
, England in 1939. His younger siblings were Paul, David and Christine.
He attended and graduated from the following schools and colleges:
in 1973, and Priest
in 1974) in the Diocese of Liverpool
, Church of England
. He served a notably short title curacy in Skelmersdale (just over a year, compared with the usual requirement of three years), before taking a post in Oxford as Librarian of Latimer House, the headquarters and library of a conservative evangelical pressure group (subsequently the Latimer Trust, without property, but maintaining its library at Oak Hill Theological College, London) during which time he also served as curate of St Ebbe's, a central Oxford evangelical parish church. In 1976 he became a tutor at Oak Hill Theological College
in London, training ordinands, and then from 1982 Director of Post-Ordination Training in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in East Anglia
. He returned briefly to parish ministry (Staindrop
, County Durham
) before moving to the United States of America in 1991. In the last decade of his working life, he served as President and CEO of the Prayer Book Society of the USA
, and his life and work were centred in America, although he did return briefly to England, and was for eighteen months the priest-in-charge of the village of Brown Edge, Staffordshire
.
Toon wrote over 25 books, together with numerous booklets, essays, and articles. He also engaged in internet authorship and discussion. He was contributing to these topical on-line discussions up until his death.
" of the Anglican tradition, defined in the Preface to the Declaration of Assent as "the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer
, and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons". His work was marked by clarity of presentation and strength of persuasion, attracting praise from supporters and critical attention from antagonists. He often wrote and spoke about the controversies in the Anglican Communion
concerning issues of liturgical reform and the ordination of women, on both of which issues he took a strongly conservative line. With the widespread adoption of the new liturgies in the Church of England (Alternative Service Book
1980, and then Common Worship
2000) and similar liturgical resources in other provinces (notably the 1979 revised Book of Common Prayer
of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America) Toon became a notable spokesman and theological advocate for the strong minority lobby favouring traditionalist views, and the retention of the seventeenth-century liturgies of the (original) Book of Common Prayer.
Although Toon is remembered, particularly in later life, for his association with these controversies, and with the Continuing Anglican movement
which arose, particularly in America, out of opposition to reforms, he was also a gifted theologian and biblical commentator, whose work (particularly in earlier life) was of a general nature, not associated with controversy, and widely employed by students of biblical analysis.
in Nashville, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Toon died on April 25, 2009 in San Diego, California. The cause of death was amyloidosis
, a rare auto-immune disease, which he had been battling for some months. There was a private family funeral in California followed by a public memorial service organised by the Prayer Book Society of the USA
at All Saints' Church, Wynnewood
, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2009.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and theologian, and an international advocate of traditional Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
.
Early life and education
Toon was born to Thomas Arthur and Hilda Toon in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England in 1939. His younger siblings were Paul, David and Christine.
He attended and graduated from the following schools and colleges:
- Hemsworth Grammar School, near Wakefield, Yorkshire
- Cliff CollegeCliff CollegeCliff College is a Christian theological college in Calver, Derbyshire, that teaches Biblical Theology at undergraduate level and a number of mission courses to postgraduates. There are currently about 60 full-time undergraduates, 40 part-time undergraduates and 100 part-time postgraduates...
, Sheffield - King’s College London
- University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
- Christ ChurchChrist Church, OxfordChrist Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
College, OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Career
After an earlier career as a college lecturer in religious studies, Toon was ordained (DeaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1973, and Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1974) in the Diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
, Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He served a notably short title curacy in Skelmersdale (just over a year, compared with the usual requirement of three years), before taking a post in Oxford as Librarian of Latimer House, the headquarters and library of a conservative evangelical pressure group (subsequently the Latimer Trust, without property, but maintaining its library at Oak Hill Theological College, London) during which time he also served as curate of St Ebbe's, a central Oxford evangelical parish church. In 1976 he became a tutor at Oak Hill Theological College
Oak Hill Theological College
Oak Hill College is a theological college located on Chase Side in Southgate, London, England. It is one of the largest seminaries in the UK....
in London, training ordinands, and then from 1982 Director of Post-Ordination Training in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. He returned briefly to parish ministry (Staindrop
Staindrop
Staindrop is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the east of Barnard Castle. Lord Barnard of Raby Castle also resides on the border.The village has one of the long greens typical of County Durham...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
) before moving to the United States of America in 1991. In the last decade of his working life, he served as President and CEO of the Prayer Book Society of the USA
Prayer Book Society of the USA
The Prayer Book Society of the USA seeks to maintain the Anglican Tradition of Common Prayer and promote the use and understanding of the traditional versions Book of Common Prayer, for example, the 1928 American edition....
, and his life and work were centred in America, although he did return briefly to England, and was for eighteen months the priest-in-charge of the village of Brown Edge, Staffordshire
Brown Edge, Staffordshire
Brown Edge is a village and civil parish in the Staffordshire Moorlands district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,406...
.
Toon wrote over 25 books, together with numerous booklets, essays, and articles. He also engaged in internet authorship and discussion. He was contributing to these topical on-line discussions up until his death.
Style and beliefs
Toon's work repeatedly stressed the importance of the "Historic FormulariesFormulary (model documents)
Formularies are medieval collections of models for the execution of documents , public or private; a space being left for the insertion of names, dates, and circumstances peculiar to each case...
" of the Anglican tradition, defined in the Preface to the Declaration of Assent as "the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons". His work was marked by clarity of presentation and strength of persuasion, attracting praise from supporters and critical attention from antagonists. He often wrote and spoke about the controversies in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
concerning issues of liturgical reform and the ordination of women, on both of which issues he took a strongly conservative line. With the widespread adoption of the new liturgies in the Church of England (Alternative Service Book
Alternative Service Book
The Alternative Service Book 1980 was the first complete prayer book produced by the Church of England since 1662. Its name derives from the fact that it was proposed not as a replacement for the Book of Common Prayer but merely as an alternative to it...
1980, and then Common Worship
Common Worship
Common Worship is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent in 2000. It represents the most recent stage of development of the Liturgical Movement within the Church and is the successor to the...
2000) and similar liturgical resources in other provinces (notably the 1979 revised Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America) Toon became a notable spokesman and theological advocate for the strong minority lobby favouring traditionalist views, and the retention of the seventeenth-century liturgies of the (original) Book of Common Prayer.
Although Toon is remembered, particularly in later life, for his association with these controversies, and with the Continuing Anglican movement
Continuing Anglican Movement
The term Continuing Anglican movement refers to a number of churches in various countries that have been formed outside of the Anglican Communion. These churches generally believe that "traditional" forms of Anglican faith and worship have been unacceptably revised or abandoned within some...
which arose, particularly in America, out of opposition to reforms, he was also a gifted theologian and biblical commentator, whose work (particularly in earlier life) was of a general nature, not associated with controversy, and widely employed by students of biblical analysis.
Personal life
He was married to Vita for forty-seven years. Vita graduated from London and Oxford Universities. They had one daughter, Deborah, who is married to a naval officer and lives in California. Deborah graduated from Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Toon died on April 25, 2009 in San Diego, California. The cause of death was amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
, a rare auto-immune disease, which he had been battling for some months. There was a private family funeral in California followed by a public memorial service organised by the Prayer Book Society of the USA
Prayer Book Society of the USA
The Prayer Book Society of the USA seeks to maintain the Anglican Tradition of Common Prayer and promote the use and understanding of the traditional versions Book of Common Prayer, for example, the 1928 American edition....
at All Saints' Church, Wynnewood
Wynnewood
Wynnewood may mean:* Wynnewood * Wynnewood, Oklahoma* Wynnewood, Pennsylvania* Wynnewood , the largest existent log structure in Tennessee...
, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2009.
External links
- The Prayer Book Society of the USA - Articles listing many of those by Dr. Peter Toon
- Published Academic Writings of Peter Toon, 1964-2009