The question, ‘Why did I not become a Catholic before?’ is an idle one enough at best, and to discuss in public one’s own private relations with the Lord is hardly seemly; yet there is one aspect of the matter I would like to draw attention to, if perchance in so doing I may help a few to some understanding of my own state of mind, three and more years ago, and of those whence I sprang. I am referring to that species of Anglicanism which has the greatest appearance of orthodoxy. Those who compose this amorphous group are often very tiresome folk, for in dealing with them you have to surmount, not merely ordinary national pride, but also pride in their own special (Oxford) culture. One must—but I’ll go no further on this point. For as soon as you begin to speak of the Church of England you fall into a slough. Agree with them, and they think you are compromising, and will start to talk about re-union, while, on the other hand, mere negative polemic only drives them away. Nevertheless, there they are! Why are they there? Why do so many English people cling so passionately to ‘their’ Church? I am sure there is some motive force besides mere nationalism and pride. Moreover, I think I can say (with only a beginner’s knowledge of theology) that, mixed up with their apparent orthodoxy, is much that is real. But where does it come from?