The Catholic Doctrine of the Church of England

Focusing on the historical context, the Parker Society was established in 1840 to publish the writings of key English Reformers from the sixteenth century, producing fifty-four volumes by its disbandment in 1855. Inspired by the Tractarian movement, which critiqued the Reformation, the society aimed to present these works attractively, reflecting the Church of England's desire to reaffirm its Reformation heritage. Named after Matthew Parker, the first Elizabethan Archbishop of Canterbury and a notable book collector, the society played a significant role in preserving this important theological legacy.