books

Ministry Reading List

This list is aimed at men interested in ordained ministry and for others learning about Anglican doctrine, history, and worship. Emphasis is on Anglican sources, with some other helpful Christian items included. Though not exhaustive, this list is updated occasionally.

Updated June 6, 2026.

Anglicanism

  • Null, Ashley, and John Yates III, eds. Reformation Anglicanism: A Vision for Today’s Global Communion. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.
  • Packer, J. I. The Heritage of Anglican Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.
  • Zahl, Paul F. M. The Protestant Face of Anglicanism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.

Bible Commentary

  • Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible. 1811 ed. [online text]
  • Ryle, J. C. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2012. [online text | ebook]

Church Leadership

  • Benton, John. The Big Picture for Small Churches: How to Thrive and Survive as a Small Congregation. Leyland, UK: Evangelical Press, 2020.
  • Croft, Brian. Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches. Tain, UK: Christian Focus, 2016.
  • Wilson, Jared C. The Prodigal Church: A Gentle Manifesto Against the Status Quo. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015.

Discerning a Call to Ordained Ministry

  • Allen, Jason K. Discerning Your Call to Ministry. Chicago: Moody, 2016.
  • Harman, Allan. Preparation for Ministry. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2015.
  • Mohler, Albert, et al. The Call to Ministry. Louisville, KY: SBTS Press, 2013.

Doctrine

  • Bray, Gerald, ed. The Books of Homilies: A Critical Edition. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co., 2015.
  • Bray, Gerald. The Faith We Confess: An Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles. London: Latimer Trust, 2009.
  • Packer, J. I. Affirming the Apostles’ Creed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.
  • Packer, J. I. Concise Theology. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1993.
  • Stott, John. Basic Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.
  • Stott, John, and Alec Motyer. The Anglican Evangelical Doctrine of Infant Baptism. London: Latimer Trust, 2008.
  • Thomas, W. H. Griffith. The Principles of Theology: An Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1930.

Episcopacy

  • Benn, Wallace. “Evangelical Episcopacy.” In Positively Anglican: Building on the Foundations and Transforming the Church, edited by Lee Gatiss, 43–53. London: Lost Coin Books, 2016.
  • Benn, Wallace. “Ussher on Bishops: A Reforming Ecclesiology.” In Preachers, Pastors, and Ambassadors: Puritan Wisdom for Today’s Church, edited by Lee Gatiss, 98–121. London: Latimer Trust, 2011.
  • Burkhill, Mark. “Better Bishops.” Church Society. [online text]
  • Cummins, George D. “Primitive Episcopacy: A Return to the ‘Old Paths’ of Scripture and the Early Church.” Sermon, Consecration of the Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, Chicago, IL, December 17, 1873. [online text]
  • Gatiss, Lee. “Evangelicals and Their Bishops: The Role of Bishops and How We Should Relate to Them.” Brief, Church Society Regional Conferences, February 2020. [online text]
  • Drury, T. W. “The Order of the English Church.” In English Church Teaching on Faith, Life, and Order, edited by R. B. Girdlestone, 178–190. London: Longmans, Green, 1908. [online text]
  • Holloway, David. “The Reform of the Episcopate and Alternative Episcopal Oversight.” Church Society. [online text]
  • Hunkin, J. W. “The Anglican Pattern of Episcopacy.” The Churchman 62, no. 2 (1948): 89–94. [online text]
  • Lightfoot, J. B. The Christian Ministry. Wilton, CT: Morehouse, 1983. [online text, an abridgement]
  • Ussher, James. “The Original of Bishops and Metropolitans.” In The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, vol. VII, edited by Charles Erlington, 43–71. Dublin: Hodges, Smith, & Co., 1864. [online text]

History

  • Cross, F. L., and E. A. Livingstone, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Ryle, J. C. Five English Reformers. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1991.

Ordained Ministry

  • Atherstone, Andrew. The Anglican Ordinal. London: Latimer Trust, 2020.
  • Atkinson, Nigel. “Ordination in the Church of England.” In Feed My Sheep: The Anglican Ministry of Word and Sacrament, edited by Lee Gatiss, 51–69. London: Lost Coin Books, 2016.
  • Baxter, Richard. Pastoral Ministry (abridged). Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2010.
  • Beckwith, Roger. Elders in Every City. Carlisle, UK: Paternoster Press, 2003.
  • White, William. “On the Qualifications, the Authorities, and the Duties of the Gospel Ministry.” Sermon, Consecration of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Parker of Massachusetts, New York, September 14, 1804. [online text]
  • Wycliffe, John. Being a Pastor. Translated and edited by Benjamin L. Fischer. Leesburg, VA: Davenant Press, 2021.

Preaching

  • McIlvaine, Charles P. Preaching Christ: The Heart of Gospel Ministry. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2003. [online text]
  • Pace, R. Scott. Preaching by the Book: Developing and Delivering Text-Driven Sermons. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018.
  • Ryle, J. C. Simplicity in Preaching. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2010. [Chapter 3 from The Upper Room: online text]

Worship

  • Bailey, Henry Ives. The Liturgy Compared with the Bible. London: SPCK, 1840. [online text]
  • Davie, Martin. Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi: Liturgy, Doctrine and Scripture in History and Today. London: Latimer Trust, 2019.
  • Ryle, J. C. Worship: Its Priority, Principles, and Practice. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2005. [Chapter 13 from Knots Untied: online text]
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