To begin with, the subject of this paper is not simply “authority,” nor “the Church and authority,” still less “the Church and political authority,” but Christianity and authority. This means to say that it is intended to discuss the meaning of authority amongst “all those who profess and call themselves Christians,” irrespective of their affiliation to one or another Christian Church or denomination. This proposition makes it incumbent upon us to admit that, although Christians in general owe allegiance to one or another such Church or denomination, these are as yet divided and unreconciled, neither has the recently expressed desire to come to a closer understanding between them been strong enough to bring the different denominations closer to each other. This is a very healthy, but at the same time a very difficult, attitude to take for any Christian who is consciously attached to “his” Church. It is healthy because it makes us admit that our efforts have been too weak—or that no efforts have been made at all—to render the Church to which we belong so overwhelmingly convincing to the other Christians that it has become the rallying point for all Christians. There is a certain fluctuation from one Church to another, but in the effect these movements cancel each other out. Thus the attitude advocated here can serve as a test for the efficacy of our faith. For we believe that “the” Church is built by faith upon faith; and if our faith were but sufficiently effective no true Christian would be able to resist the invitation to join our Church. On the other hand, it is a most difficult attitude to take. For it is a delusion to speak, as the Church of England frequently does, of being “a branch of Western Catholicism.” For no other such “branch” seems to be in communion with this one; and the phrase only tends to obscure “our unhappy divisions.” However, if it is true to say that the Church is the Body of Christ, meaning by this the visibile vestige of His Incarnation, how can it be divided?