“The Oxford History of Christian Worship”, edited by Geoffrey Wainwright and Karen Westerfield Tucker

916 pages, Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0195138863

The Oxford History of Christian Worship is an encyclopedic treatment of the topic of Christianity, covering the major historical developments through the ages, as well as differing styles of worship throughout the world. Geoffrey Wainwright and Karen Westerfield Tucker have brought together contributions from various authors to outline the liturgical diversity of the Church, with each chapter written by experts in their specialized field; all the chapters are, however, accessible with extensive footnotes for further exploration, while the opening and closing chapters by the editors locate the topic in its theoretical, historical and cultural context.

Beginning with the earliest days of the Church, the articles detail the rich history of Christian worship over two millennia, followed by additional articles covering a specific facet of worship – the role of women in the Church, the ecclesiastical visual arts, spatial setting and music – rather than a particular tradition or period. Catholic, Protestant and Eastern traditions are all covered and, unlike many more academic surveys of Christian worship, recent developments, such as the growth of Christianity in Asia and Africa, are included. Most contributors go beyond merely describing liturgy, but provide the theoretical underpinnings and offer well-considered, challenging personal opinions, as well.

Overall, The Oxford History of Christian Worship is a book which lives up to its name of providing a rich history of its subject, but which also looks to possible future trends in this never-static faith. The quality of the articles is very high and they are generally self-contained and need not be read in order; thus, it is more a compilation of essays on the history of worship and liturgy rather than a coherent historical narrative. Both the early articles on liturgical history and the later one bringing together much of the fruit of the scholarship of the liturgical movement are written in a form suitable for scholar and educated layman alike. As a reference source for understanding the diverse traditions of Christian worship, The Oxford History of Christian Worship is indispensible.