Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is the official service book of the Church of England, and a foundational liturgical text for the worldwide Anglican Communion, containing the forms of worship, prayers, readings, and rites for daily and special occasions.

History and Development

The first Book of Common Prayer was published in 1549 under the reign of King Edward VI, primarily composed by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. It replaced the various Latin liturgical uses (Sarum, York, Hereford) with a single vernacular English order of service, as part of the English Reformation. The 1549 book was a cautious compromise, retaining much of the traditional Catholic structure while introducing Protestant theological emphases. A more thoroughly Reformed revision appeared in 1552, which significantly simplified the liturgy and removed most references to the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist. After the brief Catholic restoration under Queen Mary I, the Elizabethan Settlement of 1559 produced a revised edition that balanced the 1549 and 1552 versions, establishing the BCP as the definitive expression of Anglican worship. Subsequent major revisions include the 1604 version (responding to Puritan objections), the enduring 1662 edition (approved after the Restoration, which remains the standard for most provinces of the Anglican Communion), and modern adaptations such as the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church (USA) and the 2000 Common Worship of the Church of England.

Content and Structure

The Book of Common Prayer is organized around the liturgical year and the daily offices. Its core components include: the Order for Morning Prayer (Mattins) and Evening Prayer (Evensong), based on the monastic office but simplified for congregational use; the Litany; the Order for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion), with prayers, Epistle and Gospel readings, and the Communion itself; the Collects (short prayers for each Sunday and holy day); and the Psalter (the Psalms set to be read or sung in a monthly cycle). Additionally, it contains pastoral rites: baptism (infant and adult), confirmation, matrimony, visitation of the sick, burial of the dead, and ordination services. The 1662 edition also includes the Articles of Religion (Thirty-Nine Articles), a table of proper lessons for the liturgical year, and a calendar of saints’ days and feasts.

Theology and Liturgical Character

The BCP embodies a distinctive Anglican theological perspective often described as via media (middle way) between Roman Catholicism and Reformed Protestantism. Its prayers emphasize grace, sacrament, and the authority of Scripture, but avoid explicit statements on controversial doctrines such as predestination or the real presence. The liturgy is marked by a formal, dignified, and accessible English prose—Cranmer’s masterful translation and composition shaped the rhythm of Anglican worship for centuries. The principle of “reading the Bible in order” (lectio continua) and the use of a set lectionary reflect a commitment to scriptural formation. The Prayer Book also ensures congregational participation through responses, said or sung, and by providing the full text in the vernacular.

Influence on English Language and Culture

Beyond its religious function, the Book of Common Prayer has had a profound impact on the English language. Phrases such as “till death us do part,” “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” “in the midst of life we are in death,” and “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” derive directly from its pages. Its cadenced, majestic prose influenced the literary style of authors from John Bunyan and Samuel Johnson to T. S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf. The BCP also shaped the culture of English-speaking societies by standardizing the forms of marriage, baptism, and burial, and by providing a shared liturgical rhythm for communities across class and region. In colonial contexts, the Prayer Book accompanied English settlers and missionaries, becoming a vehicle for the spread of Anglicanism and English language customs worldwide.

Major Revisions and Contemporary Use

While the 1662 Book of Common Prayer remains the official standard for the Church of England, its liturgical language and theology have been supplemented or replaced by modern language versions in many provinces. The Episcopal Church in the United States adopted its first BCP in 1789, with revisions in 1892, 1928, and 1979. The 1979 BCP, heavily influenced by the Liturgical Movement, offers contemporary language options, a three-year lectionary, and greater flexibility in worship. Similar developments occurred in Canada (1962), Australia (1978), and other Anglican provinces. Today, the BCP exists in diverse cultural translations and adaptations, yet the 1662 edition still holds a special place as a historic artifact, a literary masterpiece, and a touchstone for Anglican identity. Many traditionalist parishes and cathedrals continue to use it, and it remains a symbol of continuity and unity across the worldwide Communion.