THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

If you have come from a broadly evangelistic tradition, or no tradition at all, you may be unfamiliar with the idea of Sunday worship which follows an order set out in a book of prayers, Bible readings, and music. You may find all the movement awkward as you sit, stand, kneel, read aloud, sing, and pray with the congregation. Perhaps the idea of set prayers, repeated week after week, is foreign to you.

Where Did the Prayer Book Come From? The first Anglican Book of Common Prayer (BCP) was developed by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1549. Cranmer streamlined many Latin books of worship into a cohesive volume in English, accessible by everyone. It was designed to be used “in common by common people.” (Howe & Pascoe 44) 

This BCP has been updated and revised several times over the centuries, most recently in 2019 by the Anglican Church in North America, to retain the critical elements of the original with updated language and simplified arrangement. Over 80 million Anglicans worldwide worship each Sunday with their own contextualized versions of the Book of Common Prayer.

At Faith Church, you can easily follow along with the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer on the screens at the front of the church.