Anglican Service Book - History

History

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer emerged in the midst of the liturgical renewal movement that began early in the 20th century and that produced the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. While the prayer books of the Anglican Communion from 1549 had already addressed many of the concerns of this movement (such as the use of the vernacular and a daily office for the use of all), the movement did have a profound effect on prayer book revision in the Anglican churches. The 1979 BCP provides many welcome enrichments to the liturgical life of the church: Compline and the Proper Liturgies for Special Days, to name but two.

The rubrics of the current 1979 prayer book provide for traditional language without providing all of the necessary texts: "In any of the Proper Liturgies for Special Days, and in other services contained in this Book celebrated in the context of a Rite One service, the contemporary idiom may be conformed to traditional language." and "When it is desired to use music composed for them, previously authorized liturgical texts may be used in place of the corresponding texts in this Book." (page 14, 1979 Book of Common Prayer). These rubrics cannot be followed without the use of "supplemental texts", as the traditional idiom involves more than substituting "thee" and "thou" when addressing God; syntax and cadence are also important. Since 1976, when the proposed book was issued, many parishes have sought to work within the confines of these rubrics, while not having the resources in one book to make this easily possible. Congregations have produced many photocopied drafts of service material and parishioners have had to juggle prayer books, parish mass books, and bulletin inserts. Needless to say, this has not made it easy for newcomers or regular members to follow services.