"...a fitting contribution to the library of rich resources on William Temple. The emphasis on Temple’s leadership is particularly welcome." -- from the foreword by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York
"When William Temple died in 1944, after only a couple of years as Archbishop of Canterbury, the hopes of many for the Church of England and for the Christian faith in England died too. However, Temple's life and thought have continued to inspire many since that dark day. The Canterbury years were the culmination of a life of consuming sacrificial service to church and nation, especially to those exploited by unjust economic structures. Stephen Spencer not only knows more about William Temple than anyone else, he also possesses unrivalled insight into the making of this great archbishop. In this compellingly readable book, Spencer traces the evolution of Temple's rise to the primacy, through several painful setbacks and missteps, and objectively evaluates his achievement in intellectual and moral leadership. No book has ever brought Temple so vividly to life as this one." -- Paul Avis, University of Edinburgh and University of Exeter, UK
"William Temple's legacy remains as powerful and relevant as ever. Stephen Spencer's new study returns us to the essentials of Temple's life and work as well as indicating his enduring significance for Church and society today." -- Elaine Graham, University of Chester, UK
“Stephen Spencer’s fascinating study of Temple’s leadership will be appreciated by those who are unfamiliar with the Church of England in the early twentieth century, as well as by specialists. This book opens up Temple’s work for fresh scrutiny, and it provides much to ponder on what authentic leadership, Christian or otherwise, might look like in the present day.” -- Frances Knight, Professor Emeritus, University of Nottingham, UK
