Parish of Llandudno North Wales, Rector's letter

May 2012

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games are two special events taking place in Britain this year. But 2012 also sees another   commemoration of great significance to Anglicans – the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

The 1662 BCP (and its equivalent in Welsh published in 1664) is not actually used a great deal in the Church in Wales these days. This is mainly because our province has its own version of the Prayer Book produced in 1984 which was specifically designed to replace the 1662 book. The 1984 BCP, which has services in ‘traditional’ English, is still in widespread use throughout Wales and we continue to use it for many of our services in this parish. The Church in Wales also has modern language services such as the 2004 Eucharist and ‘Daily Prayer’ published in 2009 which are also both in regular use in our parish giving us a mix of traditional and modern language worship.

So the 1662 book is seldom used here in Wales and in fact, if I understand the position correctly, the only service from the 1662 BCP which is still canonically allowed is the Order for Holy Communion. In this respect the Church in Wales differs a great deal from the Church of England in which 1662 is still fairly widely used for a variety of services, although I think much less so than the modern language services from ‘Common Worship’.

But if we don’t use it why should we bother with this 350th anniversary? I suggest that there are a number of important reasons why we should:

1.    Even if we seldom, if ever, use it, the 1662 Prayer Book is acknowledged by Anglicans throughout the world as the liturgy from which all subsequent Anglican liturgies have developed. It has had an essential and pivotal role in the development of Anglican worship and doctrine. In the Church in Wales it is still officially regarded as an essential element in our inheritance of faith.

2.    Together with the Authorized Version of the Bible it has deeply influenced the development of the English language. For centuries it shaped the common prayer of many generations of church people.

3.    Many of our more senior parishioners (including myself) were brought up with services from 1662 – although in my fairly ‘high’ suburban parish in north London it had been adapted somewhat to fit the requirements of the time! But phrases from 1662 still resonate with those who once worshipped with them. Here are just two which may be familiar: ‘We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts....’ and ‘Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life.....Draw near with faith and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort....’

The 1662 book was in fact the fourth edition of the Book of Common Prayer. Archbishop Cranmer produced the first of these in 1549 directly after the break with Rome. Later in 1552 there was a second (more Protestant) edition which never came into use because of the return to Roman obedience under Queen Mary. After the accession of Queen Elizabeth, a ‘compromise’ edition came out based on 1552 but with some amendments from 1549. The edition of 1662 was a major revision which followed the restoration of the Church of England as an Episcopal church after the period of Cromwell’s reign in England had come to an end. It was this edition which formed the only official liturgy of the Church of England until the second part of the 20th century.

I have to be honest. Although I love the beauty of much of the language of 1662 and recognise its importance in our Anglican inheritance I would not want to return to it for regular worship. I believe the Church has moved on in all kinds of ways from the concerns of the 16th and 17th centuries which shaped this book. However, it is certainly important to commemorate a book which has helped to make our Church what it is. So as our contribution to this anniversary I am going to celebrate the Eucharist according to the 1662 rite twice in Holy Trinity Church this year.

The first occasion will be at the 9 a.m. celebration on Wednesday May 16th which is near to the anniversary of the giving of the Royal Assent to the book on 19th May 1662. The second will be on St Bartholomew’s Day - Friday 24th August at 11 a.m. It was on the feast of St Bartholomew in 1662 that the new book came into use. Do come along on either or both of those occasions.

Although the Welsh edition of 1662 didn’t come out until 1664 I am hoping to celebrate Yr Offeren according to this rite at some point during this year – but watch the website for the date!

Fr. John

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