John Keble of Oxford 		March 29
Priest and Poet
John Keble was born in 1792 and proved himself a brilliant student at Oxford. He was ordained deacon in 1815 and priest in 1816. After a period spent as a tutor at Oriel College, in 1823 he became assistant in his father’s parish in the Cotswolds. In 1827 he published The Christian Year, a book of religious poems. From this volume comes the well-known hymn, “New every morning is the love”. In 1831 he became professor of poetry at Oxford.
Keble became one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, along with J.H. Newman and E.B. Pusey. Keble’s famous sermon at Oxford in 1833, entitled “National Apostasy”, condemned the proposed political suppression of ten bishoprics in Ireland. Its emotive title reveals his vigorous stand against what he saw as a political attack on the divine authority of the church. This authority he saw as in need of defence, especially after the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 and the Reform Bill of 1832.
Keble was humble, sociable and warm hearted, but rather lacking in intellectual imagination. He was a passionate conservative, following the high church tradition of Richard Hooker and Thomas Ken. Because of his conservatism, he helped translate the writings of the early Christian fathers. His stance also enabled him to provide a steadying influence when Newman and others felt drawn to join the Roman Catholic Church. Like the majority of members of the Oxford Movement, Keble remained within the Church of England. Keble contributed a number of the movement’s “Tracts for the Times”.
Among the positive effects of this movement, both within the Church of England and in some other churches, was a greater concern for a high standard of worship and its ceremonial. There was also an increased awareness of the role and importance of the ordained ministry. One far reaching result of the Oxford Movement was the establishment of a number of religious communities.
John Keble’s flair for bringing the ancient values of the church to bear on its contemporary practice continued throughout his life and work. His genuine and deep humility and integrity earned him wide respect, both during his lifetime and since. He became vicar of Hursley in 1836, a position he retained till his death in 1866. In 1870 Keble College, Oxford, was established in his memory.
For Liturgical Use
John Keble was born in 1792. He was concerned for the future of the Church of England and pleaded for the restoration of ancient Catholic liturgical practice, devotional life, and doctrine. He was an early leader of the Oxford Movement. His sermon on “National Apostasy” in 1833 criticised the church for allowing ten Irish bishoprics to be dissolved by parliament. He defended the apostolic autonomy of the church against liberal tendencies, which he regarded as corrupting. He was known for his humility and spiritual insight. He died in 1866.
Sentence
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will reveal the hidden meanings of things in the past.	
				Psalm 78:2
Collects
Everloving God,
your servant John Keble
was an example of priestly devotion in your church;
enable us when we are tested
to know your presence and obey your will,
that we may accomplish what you give us to do;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Son of our soul, Saviour dear,
we thank you for John,
the priest who left his impress on our church,
the poet who left us hymns to sing;
help us too
to live more nearly as we pray.
Psalms	26:1-8	104:1-5,32-35
Readings
Isaiah 51:1-3		Look to your roots
Romans 15:1-6		Building up in faith
Mark 12:28-34		Not far from the kingdom
Post Communion Sentence
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.	1 Corinthians 12:7