Oil Of Gladness: Anointing in the Christian Tradition - Softcover

"The Oil of Gladness" is a comprehensive survey of the use of oils in the Christian tradition. The sixteen essays discuss anointing in the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Reformed Churches, and cover the period from Old Testament times to the revival of the use of oils in contemporary culture. The contributors include: Roger Greenacre - The Sacramental Use of Material Things; Brian Horne - Ancient Mesopotamia; Stephanie Dalley - Ancient Greece and Rome; Angus Bowie - The Old Testament; Roy Porter - The New Testament; Jeffrey John - The Early Church; John Halliburton - The Syriac Tradition; Sebastian Brock - The Orthodox Churches; Christine Hall - The Catholic Church; Geoffrey Rowell - Anointing in Hospital; Norma Autton - The Hospice Ministry and Anointing; Maureen Palmer - Oils in Contemporary Culture; Rebecca Abrams/Hugo Slim - The Blessing of Oils: The Western Tradition; Martin Dudley - The Blessing of Oils: The Byzantine Rite; and W. Jardine Grisbrooke.

The Right Reverend Geoffrey Rowell is Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe. The Revd Dr Martin Dudley is Rector of St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield and author, with Virginia Rounding, of Churchwardens: A Survival Guide, The Parish Survival Guide and Serving the Parish, all published by SPCK.