Correspondence of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury

Focusing on the historical context, the Parker Society was established in 1840 to publish the works of key English Reformers from the sixteenth century, culminating in fifty-four volumes by 1855. Named after Matthew Parker, the first Elizabethan Archbishop of Canterbury, the society emerged in response to the Tractarian movement, which criticized the Reformation. Its mission was to preserve and present the writings of Reformation leaders in an appealing format, countering the negative perceptions held by some within the Church of England.