Eight Sermons on the Priesthood, Altar, and Sacrifice

These eight sermons, delivered at St. Mary's Church in West Brompton during 1866, constitute a vigorous defense of Catholic doctrine within the Church of England at a moment when such beliefs faced fierce criticism. Mayow Wynell Mayow argues that the priesthood, the altar, and the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist are not innovations imposed upon Christianity but rather essential continuations of practices instituted by Christ and his apostles and preserved through two millennia of liturgical tradition. Through careful Scriptural argumentation and appeals to early Church history, he addresses contemporary objections to sacramental theology, asserting that true spiritual treasures often reside in humble manifestations rather than spectacular displays. The sermons engage with the liturgical reforms of the Reformation and the ongoing theological controversies of mid-Victorian England, defending the sacrificial character of the Mass against Protestant critiques while affirming continuity with ancient Christian practice. For readers interested in Victorian theology, the Oxford Movement, or the evolution of Anglican doctrine, this work offers a窗口 into the intellectual battles fought over the nature of sacred ministry and worship in nineteenth-century Britain.