By Dorothy Mills Parker

On June 9, the Rev. Canon John Andrew will retire as rector of St. Thomas' Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City's famous church, and return to his native England to live. When in Washington recently, he shared some thoughts about his 25 years in the Episcopal Church - a ministry notable for traditional worship, great music, liturgy and preaching, pastoral care and community outreach.

How, he was asked, has he maintained these high standards and the harmony and unity of the parish, at a time of so much controversy and division in the church at large?

"The answer," he said, "is good teaching, communication, and trust, between rector, staff, vestry and congregation. But first and foremost is the worship, and the principle of doing something beautiful for God, for whom nothing is too good. Great music and liturgy are also an extraordinary means for bringing people together as a family. And I can say that there has never been any real dissension on any controversial issue.

"For instance," he continued, "on liturgical revision, I took the congregation into my confidence from the beginning. There is a certain mind-set in some bishops, to forbid the 1928 prayer book, and to me that is mistaken pastoring. I might add that in England the old book (1662) continues in use along with the new" (Alternative Service Book).

Does he think the next prayer book revision will be entirely in inclusive language?

"I really don't know," he said, "and I won't be here when it appears. But I think inclusive language is a very faddish and dangerous thing."

Fr. Andrew also touched on the ordination of women, a divisive issue in both churches.

"To a certain degree I am agnostic about this, for I don't think the theological reasons, for or against, have been really convincing ... and I have many doubts. I do know that on both sides of the Atlantic there is enormous grief and anger on the part of some."

It was noted that in England provision has been made for traditionalists, in the establishment of "flying bishops," and the directive that there shall be no discrimination in the appointment to office. It was also mentioned that both York and London are now headed by traditionalist bishops - chosen, said Fr. Andrew, "simply because they were the best for the job."

He said he doesn't know any women bishops, "but New York now has a woman suffragan who is intelligent, godly and wise." He doubts there will be women bishops in England any time soon. "This country has had women priests for 20 years - time for growth and seasoning; England for only two." He predicts that Anglican priesthood in the future will include "a sizable number of women worldwide."

Fr. Andrew, a graduate of Keble College, Oxford, and Cuddesdon Theological College, was for 10 years senior chaplain to the late Michael Ramsey, in both York and Canterbury, and credits the archbishop with shaping his priesthood and his theology, "both by his great learning and his own example, his holiness of life.

"To my mind," he continued, "he stands head and shoulders above all the others for centuries ... and I'm happy to say he now has a day in the English church calendar ... and so is named as one of the saints of Anglicanism and of the Church of God."

He also spoke of the emphasis in the church today on political correctness, social activism and power, and so little evidence of that holiness of life, in its leaders.

"I loathe political correctness, and I don't mind your quoting me," he said. "I detest it because I believe courtesy and good manners obviate political correctitude." But he went on to say that "there is still holiness among the church's leadership. In England, the present Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, whom I know and love as a friend. And in the American Church, the former Presiding Bishop John Allin, whose holiness and clear-headedness helped greatly to inform me. And there is the present Bishop of New York, Richard Grein, a quiet, scholarly, godly man. This church could do with more godly bishops."

Others in the Episcopal Church have had a marked influence on Fr. Andrew's ministry.

"There was Bishop Horace Donegan, for his wisdom, gentleness and humor," he said, "and Canon Edward West, an extraordinary man. And today, at General Seminary, the scholarship of Robert Wright, and William Franklin's clear position on hopes for work with Rome. And there is Bill Tully, rector of St. Bartholomew's, for whom I have deep regard. And for many others."

How can this holiness, for which so many yearn, best be restored in parish life today?

"Well," he said, "there must be deeper prayer, deeper study and reading of scripture, of the Daily Office. Church people in this country are largely biblically illiterate. And we must recognize the danger in captivity to contemporary culture. The church should illumine it, be critical of it, but never captive to it."

As for personal plans, he has a flat in Bath, where he will do some writing and a lot of gardening, "for I was a deprived gardener in New York. And there may be something in London, for at 65, I would not want to just sit and rot."

Finally, what is he most grateful for, to the Episcopal Church?

"For many things ... but what I owe most is a quarter century of unmitigated happiness and fulfillment in the parish life; for people always willing to try something new ... and for their extraordinary generosity. They have been well taught to give, in some cases sacrificially - something the Church of England is having to learn, having relied too long on endowments. I'm immensely grateful to my curates and colleagues, for their cheerfulness and hard work, their devotion to God and to those in our care."

Fr. Andrew, who is also a canon of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, has recently received two signal honors: The Order of the British Empire (OBE), awarded him by Queen Elizabeth II, and the Cross of St. Augustine, usually given to bishops and archbishops, and bestowed on him by Archbishop Carey.

Dorothy Mills Parker was formerly TLC's correspondent for the Diocese of Washington. She resides in Washington, D.C.