The Book of Common Prayer

The successive 1549, 1552, 1559, 1604 and 1662 editions of The Book of Common Prayer illustrate the struggle of the Church of England to separate itself from Roman Catholicism. Punctuated by the brief reign of Catholic Mary I (1516-58) and the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), these handbooks for clergymen reflected a desire for reform pitched against a fear of letting go of long-held doctrines and rites. Entwined in these customs was the ‘mystery’ of priests speaking in a tongue (Latin) unintelligible to their English-speaking congregations.

Some were very attached to their ‘blind faith’ and rioted when Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) dared publish his Prayer Book in 1549 in English. It set out the order of the Communion, collects, epistles, gospels, lessons and prayers for a variety of occasions and for the first time those listening could understand the words and marvel at them.  Their prosaic significance had a huge impact on the language.

The 1662 version is still in use, though there is also a 1979 edition. To conduct church services, a CofE vicar only needs his Bible and this Book, with its calendar of special days, the form of daily and weekly worship, a catechism, the Psalms, lectionaries (Bible references for particular services), thanksgivings and celebratory rituals all included.

(Images LtoR: picryl.com / Public domain, Images George Rex at Flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0)