Western Canon Law

Western Canon Law by R. C. Mortimer offers a clear and authoritative introduction to the history, principles, and continuing legacy of ecclesiastical law in Western Christendom. Based on a series of lectures delivered at the University of California in 1951, Mortimer—then Bishop of Exeter and former lecturer in early canon law at Oxford—traces the development of canon law from its beginnings through the Reformation, with special attention to its shaping influence on the Church of England. Distinguishing Western trajectories from the largely independent Eastern tradition, Mortimer shows how ecclesiastical jurisprudence grew alongside the wider culture of Europe, embedding both theological commitments and pragmatic governance within the life of the church. The result is a succinct yet wide-ranging overview that illuminates how law, theology, and history intersect in Christian practice.

Alongside this historical sketch, Mortimer devotes his final lectures to the fate of canon law in England since the Reformation, outlining what has endured, what has lapsed, and what reforms were being actively considered in the mid-twentieth century. He reflects on the distinctive nature of canon law, contrasting it with secular jurisprudence, and highlights the principles that should guide future ecclesiastical legislation. Written for Anglican ordinands, clergy, and lay readers but relevant to students of church history more broadly, Western Canon Law addresses the long-standing neglect of a field vital to understanding Christian institutional life. By situating legal developments within their historical contexts, Mortimer provides both a practical resource and a compelling argument for why canon law matters to the health and integrity of the church today.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1953.