Although care was taken to maintain the unbroken sequence of episcopal consecrations – particularly in the case of Matthew Parker, who was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559 by two bishops who had been ordained in the 1530s with the Roman Pontifical and two ordained with the Edwardine Ordinal of 1550 – apostolic succession was not seen as a major concern that a true ministry could not exist without episcopal consecrations: English Reformers such as Richard Hooker rejected the Roman position that Apostolic Succession is divinely commanded or necessary for true Christian ministry.
Despite efforts to maintain the unbroken line of bishops' consecrations, particularly in the case of Matthew Parker who was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury by two bishops ordained in the 1530s with the Roman Pontifical and two ordained with the Edwardine Ordinal of 1550, the concept of apostolic succession wasn't considered essential for a valid ministry. English Reformers like Richard Hooker disagreed with the Roman belief that Apostolic Succession is divinely mandated or necessary for true Christian ministry.