The Council of Constance, 1414-18, decreed that papal authority should be exercised constitutionally, in a culmination of a movement much influenced by the 'conciliar' thought of two Parisian theologians, Jean Gerson and Pierre D'Ally. It also sought to suppress 'error', particularly the allegedly heterodox movement in Bohemia, whose leader, John Hus, was tried at the Council and burned at the stake. Charles Gore's vision of the reunion of the episcopal churches was analogous to the federal model promoted by the Council; his fellow Anglo-Catholic, J. N. Figgis, praised the Council's ideals and leading figures in 'The Conciliar movement and the papalist reaction', Studies of political thought from Gerson to Grotius, 1414-1625 (1900). Henson criticised Gore's vison of ecclesiastical reunion in 'Reunion: Political or Evangelical', letter, The Times17 Aug. 1918.

Journal references: 2

• 7 May 1917
• 13 Aug 1918