Sermons at Court

A 1998 literary and historical analysis of preaching at the English court, 1558–1625, with additional web resources.

This 1998 book describes preaching at the royal courts during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I (1558–1625) and reconstructs the contexts - architectural, religious, political - in which the sermons were preached. Additional web resources provide the reader with a definitive calendar of court sermons for the period.This 1998 study describes the most neglected site of political, religious and literary culture in early modern England: the court pulpits of Elizabeth I and James I. It unites the most fertile strains in early modern British history - the court and religion. Dr McCullough shows work previous to his own underestimated the place of religion in courtly culture, and presents evidence of the competing religious patronage not only of Elizabeth and James but also of Queen Anne, Prince Henry and Prince Charles. The book contextualises the political, religious and literary careers of court preachers such as Lancelot Andrewes, John Donne and William Laud, and presents evidence of the tensions between sermon- and sacrament-centred piety in the established Church period. Additional web resources provide the reader with a definitive calendar of court sermons for the period.