Description
Book SynopsisA comprehensive analysis of the Book of Common Prayer's historical development, theological background and continued liturgical significance.
Trade Review'The 1662 Book of Common Prayer has had a massive influence on corporate worship inside and outside the Anglican world ever since it was published. The principles which guided the production of this book take us beyond our contemporary superficial approaches to what we do when we gather as the church of God, allowing the great truths of the gospel to shape our response to that gospel as God's redeemed people. Gerald Bray is uniquely placed to reacquaint us with those principles. His encyclopaedic knowledge of Anglican history and theology enables us to understand why the various services of the book have the shape they do and so enable us to make better use of them. This is a richly edifying companion to the Book of Common Prayer which I highly recommend.' - Dr Mark D Thompson, Principal, Moore Theological College 'Learned, pastoral, and unafraid to show his theological cards, Gerald Bray has breathed new life into a genre that has nurtured the devotion of millions of Anglicans through the centuries: the prayer book commentary. This Companion emphasises the theological themes of the Book of Common Prayer, treating it not as a historical artifact, nor as a monument of great literature, but as a liturgical embodiment of the good news of Jesus Christ.' - Samuel L. Bray, John N. Matthews Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame and coeditor of The 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition 'Gerald Bray has studied, written on, and taught the Anglican formularies for decades. Amidst rising interest in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (including the recent International Edition), this timely Companion comes as an eminently readable and informative guide, and will be profitable to prayer-book newcomers and veterans alike.' - Jake Griesel, Lecturer in Church History and Anglican Studies, George Whitefield College, Cape Town 'One of the major drivers for the theological renewal of global Anglicanism in the twenty-first century is a rediscovery of the Book of Common Prayer by a new generation. Gerald Bray's overview, building on the classic Tutorial Prayer Book, is a valuable guide for Anglicans worldwide who want to embrace their rich heritage.' - Andrew Atherstone, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 'The formation of the Ordinariates for former Anglicans in the Catholic Church in 2011 allowed the use of liturgical texts 'proper to the Anglican tradition which have been approved by the Holy See'. The commission set up by the Vatican to oversee liturgy looked to the Prayer Book tradition in Anglicanism for suitable texts for liturgical use. The Ordinariates now have a complete set of liturgical texts using much Prayer Book Material including, Morning and Evening Prayer, the marriage and burial services and material from the Holy Communion Service including the collects. This has a profound ecumenical significance. For some of us this has meant rediscovering the beauty of the Book of Common Prayer. Dr Bray has done us an invaluable service helping us to appreciate the sources of many of the prayers which are now incorporated into liturgy in the Catholic Church.' - The Right Revd Monsignor Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements ix 1. History of the Book of Common Prayer 1 Before the Reformation 4 The Reformation Era 23 Since the Reformation 75 2. Introductory Material 103 The Preface 103 Concerning the Service of the Church 112 Of Ceremonies 117 The Order How the Psalter Is Appointed to Be Read 122 The Order How the Rest of Holy Scripture Is Appointed to Be Read 126 Rules Governing the Moveable and Immoveable Feasts 131 The Calendar 138 3. The Daily Offices 148 Morning and Evening Prayer 148 Appendices to the Daily Offices 182 4. Collects, Epistles and Gospels 198 Collects 199 Epistles and Gospels 244 5. The Lord's Supper 255 What's in a Name? 255 Basic Principles 257 Historical Developments 260 The Reformation 269 The Ante-Communion 274 The Communion 301 The Post-Communion 322 Excursus: From the 1637 Scottish BCP to the 1789 American BCP 326 The Appended Collects 329 The Closing Rubrics 330 6. Christian Initiation336 Introduction 336 The Forgotten History 338 The Reformation 344 The Reformed Baptismal Rites 348 English Baptismal Rites 350 Public Baptism of Infants (1552/1662) 361 Private Baptism of Infants (1552/1662) 376 Adult Baptism (1662) 378 The Catechism 382 Confirmation 388 7. Matrimony 393 Historical Introduction 393 The Reformation 398 The Preliminaries to the Marriage Service 398 The Marriage Service 403 The Post-Matrimonial Service 407 8. Other Services and Rites410 The Visitation and Communion of the Sick 410 The Burial of the Dead 416 The Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth 424 A Commination 426 Forms of Prayer to Be Used at Sea 431 The State Services 434 9. The Ordinal 438 Introduction 438 Theological Questions 439 The Reformed Church of England 443 The Nomenclature 447 The Title and Preface 451 The Making of Deacons 456 The Ordering of Priests 459 The Consecration of an Archbishop or Bishop 465 10. The Articles of Religion 471 Bibliography 477 Index 485 Holy Scripture and Early Christian Writings 485 Names and Places 493 Subjects 498 Liturgies and Rites 504 Church Councils 505 Parliamentary Statutes and Measures 506
