But to the Church itself, as I hinted already, all is changed, in its preaching, in its working, by the introduction of Books.  The Church is the working recognised Union of our Priests or Prophets, of those who by wise teaching guide the souls of men.  While there was no Writing, even while there was no Easy-writing, or Printing, the preaching of the voice was the natural sole method of performing this.  But now with Books!—He that can write a true Book, to persuade England, is not he the Bishop and Archbishop, the Primate of England and of all England?  I many a time say, the writers of Newspapers, Pamphlets, Poems, Books, these are the real working effective Church of a modern country.  Nay, not only our preaching, but even our worship, is not it too accomplished by means of Printed Books?

Thomas Carlyle, “The Hero as Man-of-Letters”