The Book of Common Prayer (2011)

This came in the mail today.  It’s a recent version of the Book of Common Prayer put together for trial use by the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), two continuing Anglican bodies in North America standing for historic Anglicanism over against the deeply compromised Episcopal Church (ECUSA).  [Update: Although the copyright page says “This book is for trial use by the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in North America for liturgical review,” I have since learned that this statement can be a bit misleading.  This addition has not been approved by any church, even as a trial version, but is apparently a private project.  It has no standing with either the REC or the ACNA.  That said I still think it is a valuable resource for one wanting a BCP with the ESV text, particularly for private or devotional use.]  One of the things that initially excited me about this edition was that  it is the first and only version of the BCP that I am aware of that uses the English Standard Version of the Bible throughout.  Because that is the version that I use for personal reading and study this edition frees me from having to choose between constantly switching back and forth between my Bible and a prayer book or reading texts in less familiar translations, particularly the Psalms which I find it especially helpful to routinely read in the same translation.

The binding and printing on this edition are not great and it’s just a simple hardback (no doubt because it was a small initial printing for the trial period) but if it’s ever approved and a large scale printing is done the layout itself is very nice (slightly wider margins would be a nice addition).  It’s a four color printing: black for body text, purple for headings, red for instructions and green for posture and comes with a ribbon.  I’d love to see a version in genuine leather with 4 or 5 ribbons, but hey this was only $11.95 +s/h.

For the most part from what I can tell this version is similar to other editions of the BCP (i.e 1928, 1979, etc.), but there are a few things that I particularly like.  For one thing, the editors have chosen to include a service for Compline.  Despite the fact that Cranmer original simplified the numerous services of the Hours down to just Morning and Evening Prayer the editors note that Compline has remained an important part of the lives and piety of many people, and that for many it provides a fitting close to the day, sealing it with prayer.  So they have included that form which has not traditionally been in the prayer books intended for the United States (although some of the editions for the Anglican Church of Canada included it).  I personally like the Compline service and anticipate rotating between that and Evening Prayer from time to time during family devotions.

Additionally this prayer book makes it quite easy to pray through the 30 day cycle of the Psalms (well, easy in that it’s clear which ones to pray each day although some of us may not find it easy to pray through five Psalms a day, at least at first).  More generally the instructions are easy to follow, there are a lot of occasional prayers provided for different life circumstances, and the rites and prayers for things like marriage, end of life, etc. seem very good and pastorally useful on first impression.

Some will dislike anglo-catholic elements (i.e. referring to marriage and ordination as sacraments, listing the Apocrypha as among what may be read for the first lesson, etc.), but I can’t see that these elements particularly effect the usefulness of the book.  Particularly if one is just using it personally, for family and private devotions, or for occasional pastoral ministry (i.e. weddings, funerals, visiting the sick) there is nothing that I think would be problematic for evangelicals or those of a more low-church persuasion.  The forms themselves seem to me, at least on first blush, to be very traditional, very thoughtful, and very ecumenical (in the good sense).  I look forward to using it.

You can order a copy here.

This Book of Common Prayer (2011) embodies the ancient tradition of two thousand years of Christians who have prayed together.  This book incorporates the common prayer from the historic prayer books of the Anglican Church as received in North America.  The first Book of Common Prayer (1549) is the standard framework for this prayer book, incorporating additions from later prayer books of the Anglican Communion.

Come with your grace and heavenly aid,
And fill the hearts which you have made.

Vene Creator Spiritus (from the front page)

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