Ever Ancient Ever New Book Review

Before I was even aware, I was part of a movement. Through God’s Providence, I stumbled onto the Daily Office, then one book, then another, and then a podcast or two. All of my evangelical and charismatic instincts and questions were finding fulfillment and answers in the sacramental tradition. Eventually, my wife and I moved four hours away to join an Anglican church in the hope of becoming church planters. We found a treasure hidden in a field: history, tradition, Eucharist, and the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. To our surprise, everywhere we went we found others on the same journey and with the same experiences, feelings, thoughts, and even books and podcasts. In Ever Ancient, Ever New (Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI. 2019), Winfield Bevins gives a concise summary of this movement of young people into the liturgical tradition. Although a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, Bevins makes no apologetic for Anglicanism specifically. Instead, he draws from his experience as a church planter and professor to tell the stories of young people who are disillusioned and discontent with their current “low-church” experience (whether of the evangelical, non-denomination, or charismatic variety) and are making their way into churches and traditions rich in liturgy, history, and the sacraments. 



It would be a mistake to assess this movement as merely another fad in the shifting sands of relevance or style. Bevins makes clear that the church in North America has substantial need of what the sacramental and liturgical tradition has to offer. “I have come to the conclusion,” he states, “that liturgy, when rightly appropriated, is one of the best ways for us to make disciples in a postmodern context (Bevins, p. 22).” Disappointed with the promises of modernism and unsatisfied with the uncertainty of postmodernism, young adults “are looking to the premodern roots of our history” and reincorporating it for today (p. 31). The movement and goal, therefore, is not to go back and live in the past, like some naive nostalgia, but to go back in order to move forward with stronger foundations for an uncertain future. Whether this happens as a movement towards Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Easter Orthodox churches or within the evangelical and charismatic churches, it is a good thing and an encouraging move of the Spirit. 

Bevins writes his book in three sections, using interviews and personal narratives throughout. Part One focuses on the foundations of the movement with the reasons young adults say they are embracing liturgy, the basics of liturgy itself, and the allure of theological orthodoxy. Part Two traces various ways that this journey is taking shape for people, including those who enter more established traditions, those who are rediscovering monastic spirituality, those who are embracing a neo-liturgical movement within low-church traditions, and those who are emphasizing “Convergence” between the evangelical, charismatic, and sacramental traditions. Part Three focuses on the classical spiritual disciplines that surround the vision for liturgy such as the Daily Office, Lectio Divina, silence, and solitude. These practices and rhythms, he explains, are not just for personal growth but deeply connected to the mission of the church and the discipleship of the home and family. Bevins does well throughout the book to subtly make the case for this liturgical renewal among young adults, rarely turning to fully make the case, instead letting people’s stories speak for themselves, inviting us into take the journey with them.

Bevins’ greatest strength is when he is telling the stories of the young people who are making this journey into liturgy. Despite the diversity of their destinations, from Roman Catholic to neo-liturgical evangelical, their common desires and language is striking and encouraging. In this sense, Ever Ancient Ever New is reminiscent of Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail by Robert E. Webber, the famous forerunner to this movement, by giving voice to the deep feeling that something is not right and pointing a hopeful path forward. In the same vein, Bevins tells the encouraging stories of several churches (including his own) who are making this journey corporately. 

On the other hand, the book is weakest when teasing out the details and “why’s” of this movement, not because Bevins does it poorly, but simply because there is so much ground to cover that he must resort to several short and unsatisfying lists. While some profound insights make it through, often these sections of the book read like a primer, giving only several paragraphs to introduce weighty topics like sacramental spirituality or catholicity. For this reason, the book could serve as a good introduction to someone exploring liturgy for the first time. 

There is much concern in the American evangelical church today about young people and many books and blog posts about how to reach and keep them. These churches are right to be concerned and seek answers but I find their typical plans and programs deeply unsatisfying. I have a sense that most young people have no idea what they are really looking for, despite their strong opinions, as if any specific systematic change will make the difference. At a basic level, I found that I was looking for the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; the fullness for what Christ himself said He would build. Without any plans or programs, Ever Ancient Ever New tells the story of how the Holy Spirit, on His own accord and will, is calling many young people in this postmodern moment to look again toward ancient paths and toward the Church. May the North American church recognize the moment and follow.