'This valuable book by one of our most eminent legal historians is the product of fifty years engagement with the history of the Church courts in England. It not only provides new insights into the careers of eighteen very different ecclesiastical lawyers over seven centuries but also (in the first half) prepares the way with an accessible and authoritative history of their profession.' John H. Baker, Downing Professor Emeritus of the Laws of England, University of Cambridge

'The Profession of Ecclesiastical Lawyers: An Historical Introduction is an important contribution to the literature on the history of the legal profession by the leading scholar of canon law. It combines a thorough and insightful analysis of the development, education, and regulation of a somewhat neglected segment of the English legal profession with a view of the profession through the activities of its practitioners.' Jonathan Rose, Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar Emeritus, Arizona State University

'No one knows the history of ecclesiastical law in the British Isles better than R. H. Helmholz. This volume provides a unique and authoritative overview of the training and practice of English ecclesiastical lawyers, together with biographical portraits of some twenty leading practitioners brought to life with skill and energy. Drenched with fresh and fascinating insights, this is a mighty work of scholarship.' Mark Hill, Inner Temple, London