The Eucharist

London: W.J.Cleaver. 1846.

Inscribed by the author. Second edition. 8vo. 214x135mm. pp. xiv, [2], 463, [1bl]. Handsomely bound in contemporary brown morocco, boards and spine heavily tooled in blind and with title in gilt to spine. Brass cornerpieces and clasp. Beautifully gauffred edges, marbled endpapers, maroon silk ribbon. A blank preliminary leaf has the inscription "The joint gift of Mary Vickery and William J.E. Bennett to Elisa Vickery on her Birth Day 16th of June 1854. Pro salute anima preces sunt perpetua in Christo". In immaculate condition throughout and the binding is a splendid Victorian period piece.
William Bennett was one of the leading Tractarian ritualists, the instigator (by his founding of St Barnabas Church) of "Popery in Pimlico", and the defender of the Real Presence in Sacrament of the Eucharist. This book represents his workings out of the complex doctrine of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.