The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meyers, Ruth A.

Series:

Oxford Handbooks Series

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (625 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2026.

Summary:

The Anglican tradition centers on a Book of Common Prayer, originating in sixteenth-century England and carried throughout the world largely through colonial expansion. In the twentieth century, many churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion developed local versions of this Prayer Book. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer explores these worship books, with chapters that consider the historical development and the meaning and practice of particular services in different contexts, and related topics such as the use of language, worship space, and music.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Contributors

Anglican Identity and Theology

Development of the Book of Common Prayer

Use of a Book of Common Prayer

Structure of the Book of Common Prayer-And of This Volume

Part I The Book in Context

Chapter 1 The Book of Common Prayer and Anglican Identity

On Being Anglican

Which Book?

The Use of Scripture

Status of the Book

Shape and Structure

The Indivisibility of Liturgy and Life

Chapter 2 Colonial Legacy of the Book of Common Prayer

Definitions

State Power and Cultural Assumptions of the 1662 Prayer Book

The American Revolution and the Break With the Prayer Book

The Prayer Book and Colonial Dynamics

Power

Enslavement and Baptism

Church Discipline: Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage

Literacy and Education

Standardization and Formal Liturgy

The Prayer Book and Contextualization

Revision in a New Political Situation: China

Revision Due to Church Union: Church of South India

Revision and Postcolonial Theological Reflection: United States

Revision as Anti-Colonial and Contextual Reclamation: New Zealand

Conclusion

Chapter 3 Inculturation

Introduction

The Language of Inculturation

Developments and Statements in Anglicanism and Other Churches

The Eighteenth Century

Nineteenth-Century Expansion

Lambeth Conferences

The Second Vatican Council

Instruments of Communion

A Lutheran Contribution

The Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa

ACC 10, Panama City, 1996

The Third Millennium

Examples

Inclusive Language in English

Liberation-Themed Prayers

Interfaith Dialogue

Ethnographic Approaches

Chapter 4 Liturgical Revision and the Book of Common Prayer

History of Prayer Book Revision.

Contemporary Approaches to Prayer Book Revision

Trends in Contemporary Prayer Book Revision

Chapter 5 How the Book of Common Prayer Shapes-and Is Shaped By-Other Liturgical Traditions

Sixteenth Century

Roman Catholic Influences in the 1549 BCP

Lutheran Influences in the 1549 BCP

Reformed Influences in the 1552 BCP

Eighteenth Century

Unitarianism

Methodism

Twentieth Century

Liturgical Texts and Lectionaries

Eucharist

Baptism

Chapter 6 Books of Occasional Services and Other Supplemental Books

A Brief Historical Overview of Supplemental Liturgical Materials

The Liturgical Year and Sanctoral Calendar

Baptism, Confirmation, and Rites of Pregnancy and Maturation

Marriage

Ministration to the Sick and Burial

Ordination and Commissioning for Ministries

Other Occasional Services

Future Trends

Part II Language

Chapter 7 Prayer Book Language Through Time

Definitions: Prayer Book Language and Hieratic Language

Beginnings to 1662

Education and Literacy

Revision in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

Towards a Characterization of Prayer Book Language

Chapter 8 Inclusive Language in the Book of Common Prayer

How Language Works

The Issues Around Gendered Liturgical Language

What Provinces Have Said and Done

England

The Lambeth Conference

New Zealand

The Episcopal Church (United States)

Canada

Australia

Kenya

Summary and Conclusion

General Conclusion

Chapter 9 The Challenges of Translating Liturgies

Translating the Fact of Language

Language, Among Others

Language and Culture

Stranger Still

Cultures Need Translating Too

The Oral Nature of Liturgy

No Neuter Case . . .

A Liturgy Is Not Just a Text

Liturgy and Translation Theory.

Chapter 10 Language and Doctrine: The Didactic Use of Liturgy

The 1549 and 1552 Books of Common Prayer: Lex Credendi, Lex Orandi

The Two Branches: 1552/1662 and 1549/1637

Doctrinal Elasticity and Diversity Today

Ordination

Part III The Prayer Book Enacted

Chapter 11 Performance of the Liturgy

What Is a Rubric?

Performance, Meaning, and Interpretation

A Diversity of Liturgical Enactments

Conclusion: The Ethical Implications of the Performance of the Liturgy

Chapter 12 Service Music and Congregational Song

Musical Traditions in England

Music in the Elizabethan Church

The West Gallery Tradition, C. 1700-1860

The Evangelical Tradition

Hymns, Ancient and Modern, With Accompanying Tunes (1861)

Evensong

Across the Pond: The United States and Canada

The United States

Anglican Music Across the Globe

Africa: A Few Local Examples

South India

Conclusions

Suitability to the Liturgical Context

Appropriateness to the Specific Context

Respect for Local Culture

Attentiveness to and Interaction With Anglican Tradition

Appreciation for Beauty

Seeking Out Global and Ecumenical Repertoires

Chapter 13 The Book of Common Prayer and Liturgical Space

Outward and Visible Signs

Changes to Worship Space Following the Prayer Books of Edward VI

Changes to Worship Space in the Elizabethan Era

Changes to Worship Space Following the Book of Common Prayer 1662

Changes to Worship Space in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

Changes to Worship Space Following Prayer Book Revision in the Twentieth Century

Two Significant Examples

The Great Disconnect

In Conclusion

Chapter 14 Children and the Book of Common Prayer

Modern Childhood and Liturgical Revision.

Children and Christian Initiation

Eucharistic Prayers for Use With Children

Liturgy for All Ages

Part IV The Calendar and Liturgical Year

Chapter 15 The Concept of the Liturgical Year

The Unsolvable Problem in Liturgical History

Anamnesis

The Beginnings of the Liturgical Year

Sunday Comes First

The Development of Easter

The Role of Initiation in the Development of the Calendar

Celebrating Christ's Birth

The Expansion of the Liturgical Year Beyond the Birth and Death Cycles

Anglican Prayer Books and the Liturgical Year

Recent Changes in the Calendar

Should Other Communities Embrace Changes to the Liturgical Year?

Chapter 16 Lectionaries

Early Development of the Lectionary

The Lectionary and the Book of Common Prayer

Revisions to 1662

Modern Lectionary Revisions

Chapter 17 The Triduum in the Book of Common Prayer

Background: The Triduum to the Eve of the Reformation

The Triduum in the Prayer Books From 1549 to 1662

The American Prayer Books and the Liturgical Movement

Services for Trial Use 1971 in the Episcopal Church

Book of Common Prayer 1979 in the Episcopal Church

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Great Vigil of Easter

The Triduum in Other Anglican Prayer Books

Ongoing Development: Issues and Challenges

Chapter 18 Calendars of Saints

Historical Background

Theological Foundations

Development and Evolution

Contemporary Practice

Excursus: Francis of Assisi and Liturgical Evolution

Part V Christian Initiation

Chapter 19 Initiatory Preparation and Practice in the Anglican Tradition

Baptism in the New Testament

Early Witnesses

The English Reformation

Interlude: Anglican Stability and Cultural Challenges

Liturgical Renewal

Reflections.

Chapter 20 Baptismal Theology: Faith and Baptism

Chapter 21 Ethical Implications of Baptism: Togetherness and Transformation as an Ontological Feature of Creation

Baptismal Vows and Commitments

Called to Be Together: Who Is My Family?

Entering a Community of Equals

Early Christian Practice: The Theological Significance of Baptism

Baptism as Transformation

The Baptismal Covenant: The Praxis of the Marks of Mission

Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom

Teaching, Baptizing, and Nurturing New Believers

Responding to Human Needs By Loving Service

Transforming Unjust Structures of Society, Challenging Violence, and Pursuing Peace and Reconciliation

Safeguarding the Integrity of Creation and Renewing the Life of the Earth

Conclusion: Moving Forward in Hope

Chapter 22 The Relationship of Baptism and Confirmation: What Constitutes Christian Initiation?

Introduction: Emerging Understandings of Christian Initiation

The Traditional Anglican Pattern of Christian Initiation

Missionary Expansion

The Meaning of Confirmation

Recent Anglican Prayer Books

Chapter 23 Admission to Communion in the Book of Common Prayer: Evolution and Challenges

Christian Initiation as the Foundation of Church Membership

Admission to Communion in the Early Church

The Emergence of Confirmation as a Separate Rite and Its Impact On Admission to Communion

The English Reformation and Confirmation as a "Graduation" to Communion

Winds of Change: The Twentieth Century, Admission to Communion and Prayer Book Renewal

Solemn Communion: A Pastoral-Liturgical Response

Part VI Daily Offices and Services of the Word

Chapter 24 The Form and Function of the Daily Offices

The Late Middle Ages

Cardinal Quiñones's Breviary

The 1549 Book of Common Prayer

The 1552 BCP.

Later Revisions.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-767310-4

0-19-767311-2

0-19-767309-0

9780197673096

OCLC:

1565481011