Introduction

Introduction

 THERE was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so surely established, which (in continuance of time) hath not been corrupted: as (among other things) it may plainly appear by the common prayers in the Church, commonly called divine service: the first original and ground whereof, if a man would search out by the ancient fathers, he shall find that the same was not ordained, but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of godliness: For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest parte thereof) should be read over once in the year, intending thereby, that the Clergy, and specially such as were Ministers of the congregation, should (by often reading and meditation of Gods word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able also to exhort other by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth. And further, that the people (by daily hearing of Holy Scripture read in the Church) should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion.

But these many years passed this Godly and decent order of the ancient fathers, hath bee so altered, broken, and neglected, in former days by proliferation of hagiography’s, commemorations etc., and more recently by trimming of the more controversial verses, that commonly when any book of the Bible was began: before three or four Chapters were read out, all the rest were unread.

 These inconveniences therefore considered: here is set further such an order, whereby the same shall be redressed. Yet because there is no remedy, but that of necessities’ there must be some rules: therefore certain rules are here set further, which as they be few in number; so they be plain and easy to be understand. So here you have an order for prayer (as touching the reading of Holy Scripture) much agreeable to the mind and purpose of the old fathers, and a great deal more profitable and commodious, than that which of late was used.

Services upon Sundays and Principal Feast Days

The Order for Holy Communion, the Order for Matins, the Order for Evensong, and the Litany, as set forth in this Book, are the regular Services appointed for Public Worship in this Church. It is expected that every parish with one paid full-time clergy shall use each of these at least once on every Sunday and on the feasts of Christmas, Epiphany, the Ascension, and All Saints. Missions, Chapels, and Parishes which due to lack of clergy cannot comply with the forgoing shall on every Sunday and on the feasts of Christmas, Epiphany, the Ascension, and All Saints use Morning Prayer, the Litany, and the Ante Communion at the least.

It is recommended that services on the feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists and on the feasts of St Stephen the Martyr, the Holy Innocents, the Circumcision of our Lord, the Purification of St. Mary the Virgin, the Annunciation, St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Alban the Martyr, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Transfiguration, the Dormation of the Blessed Virgin, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and St. Michael and All Angels, be as for Sunday.

The Order for the offices of: Prime, Terce, Sext, Noone, Compline, Vigils and Lauds are here set forth for use in supplementing the forgoing regular services upon appropriate occasions. It is strongly encouraged that Vigils and Lauds be sung in Cathedrals and such Monastic and Parish Churches as are able on the days for which readings for these hours are appointed in this book.

Regarding the Daily Service of the Church

And all Priests and Deacons shall be bound to say daily the Morning and Evening prayer, either privately or openly, except they be letted by preaching, studying of divinity, or by some other urgent cause.

And the Curate that ministreth in every Parish Church or Chapel, being at home, and not being otherwise reasonably letted, shall say the same in the Parishes Church or Chapel where he ministreth, and shall toll a belle thereto, a convenient time before he begin, that such as be disposed may come to hear God's word, and to pray with him.

Regarding adult catechumens

Lest any person be tempted into the heteropraxy of Communion without Baptism, upon a plea of pastoral necessity let every parish hold public baptisms upon the Feasts of Christmas, the Baptism of Our Lord, Easter, Whitsunday, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Transfiguration, Michaelmas, and All Saints at the least.

And let every parish hold classes instructing catechumens in the catechism in this book prior to baptism. It is recommended that catechumens begin a program of bible study following the course of readings in this book and participate in Matins and Evensong during their period of instruction at the least. It is strongly recommended that this period of instruction should end with an all night vigil before their Baptism and first Holy Communion. The following pattern for the vigil is put forward as a suggestion only.

6 p.m.             Evensong

9 p.m.             Compline

Midnight       Vigils unto the end of the First Nocturn

2 a.m.             Second Nocturn

4 a.m.             Third Nocturn

6 a.m.             Lauds & Baptisms

7 a.m.             Prime

9 a.m.             Terce

10:30 a.m.     Holy Communion

Those preparing for Confirmation should follow a similar program of instruction which should include the teaching of the three catholic creeds, the cannons and anathemas of the seven ecumenical councils and the 39 articles of religion. It is recommended that this instruction include a program of bible study following the course of readings in this book and participation in Matins and Evensong daily during the period of instruction.

Resolution of Conflicts and Notes

And for so much as nothing can, almost, be so plainly set further, but doubts may rise in the use and practicing of the same: to appease all such diversity (if any arise), and for the resolution of all doubts, concerning the manner how to understand, do, and execute the things contained in this book: the parties that so doubt, or diversely take any thing, shall always resort to the Bishop of the Diocese, who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same: so that the same order be not contrary to anything contained in this book.

¶ Though it be appointed, that all things shall be read and song in the church, in the English tongue, to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified: yet it is not meant, but when men say Matins and Evensong privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand.

¶ Likewise in parishes where English is not the common tongue, then the liturgy should be translated , to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified

¶ That in the directions for the several Services in this Book, it is not intended, by the use of any particular word denoting vocal utterance, to prescribe the tone or manner of their recitation.

¶ That it is permitted to substitute for the thees and thous herein the modern English expressions of the same meaning.