The Order for the Churching of a Woman after Childbirth

The Order for the Churching of a Woman after Childbirth

The woman shall come into the church, and there shall kneel down in some convenient place, nigh unto the quire door: and the priest standing by her shall say these words, or such like, as the case shall require.

FORASMUCHE as it hath pleased almighty god of his goodness to give you safe deliverance, and your child baptism, and hath preserved you in the great danger of childbirth: ye shall therefore give hearty thanks unto god, and pray.

Then shall the priest say this psalm.

Psalm 121. Levavi oculos.

I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills; * from whence cometh my help?

2 My help cometh even from the LORD, * who hath made heaven and earth.
    3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; * and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
    4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.
    5 The LORD himself is thy keeper; * the LORD is thy defence upon thy right hand;6 So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, * neither the moon by night.
    7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil; * yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
    8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, * from this time forth for evermore.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Answer. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Priest. O lord save this woman thy servant.

Answer. Which putteth her trust in thee.

Priest. Be thou to her a strong tower.

Answer. From the face of her enemies.
Priest. O Lord hear our prayer.

Answer. And let our cry come to thee.

Priest.  Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTIE God, which hast delivered this woman thy servant from the great pain and peril of childbirth: Grant, we beseech thee (most merciful father), that she through thy help may both faithfully live, and walk in her vocation according to thy will in this life present; and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come: through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

The woman that is purified, must offer her Crysome and other accustomed offerings. And if there be a communion, it is convenient that she receive the Holy Communion.