Content and use of The Book of Common Prayer
Thomas Cranmer’s introduction to the first Book of Common Prayer (1549) underscores the purposes for which it was prepared: to restore the centrality of Scripture in worship, to provide an “order for prayer” consistent with early Christian worship, to simplify medieval practice and make the book easier to understand and use, and to establish unity of practice across the English Church. Central to this project was worship in English, a language understood by the people (Articles of Religion 24). In the long run, this was a book that could be used not only by clergy in the church building, but also in the home, especially the Daily Office. It offered a holistic spiritual system, a grammar for prayer and a pattern for Christian practice. Finally, it offered the most basic and fundamental statement of the Church of England’s theology.
Liturgics
- History of Christian worship
- Content and use of The Book of Common Prayer
- Sanctification of time: the church year and calendar of saints
- Sacramental theology
- Christian initiation: Baptism and confirmation
- Shape of the Holy Eucharist
- Other sacraments and pastoral services
- Daily Office
- Liturgy and mission
- Music in worship: history and theology
- Hymnal tradition and music selection in corporate worship
- Sanctification of space: vestments, furnishings, and architecture
