Personal/family use of the BCP

[Ploutos]

Does anyone here have experience with, or opinion on, the use of the Book of Common Prayer as an aid in either personal or family devotions during the week?

The edition in question is the fifth (1963) edition of the REC USA BCP, though I welcome not only general feedback on the use of such an aid but any comments about particular editions.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I have found that selective use of it is helpful to assist one in private prayer. In fact, I was even advised by a Free Church Continuing minister to use it for such a purpose.

 

[Pilgrim]

I believe the biggest objection was making it obligatory along with what the Puritans considered Romish elements, neither of which are likely to be significant factors in the parts that would be used for private worship.

Note that the American prayer book is more Romish than the 1662. I don’t know if that is true of the REC book to which you refer. The REC used to be low church and evangelical but they have become more high church in the past two or three decades. Recently I saw a quip about the REC being the only church where people kneel to receive grape juice, but I suspect that’s not the case with many of them now.

 

[RamistThomist]

Selective use of it. The collects are probably the finest moment of the English language. Doing all the daily offices readings could probably get time-consuming with little ones.

 

[Pilgrim]

Selective use of it. The collects are probably the finest moment of the English language. Doing all the daily offices readings could probably get time-consuming with little ones.

I will look into using some of it. I’ve got a bunch of prayer books, so I might as well. We’ve never done anything with “King James” type language though.

 

[RamistThomist]

I will look into using some of it. I’ve got a bunch of prayer books, so I might as well. We’ve never done anything with “King James” type language though.

Look into the 2019 ACNA version, then. It's not perfect, but it is infinitely better than the TEC's 1979 version.

Anglican Church in North America – 2019 Book of Common Prayer

 

[Theoretical]

ACNA's is pretty complicated and messy, including putting the filioque in brackets in the liturgy[!]. Especially for a non-Anglican Reformed person using it personally and in a family setting, I highly recommend the 1662 International Edition:

InterVarsity Press - The 1662 Book of Common Prayer

www.ivpress.com

This version is like a lightly updated KJV in terms of the language, faithfully done by two confessional laymen who take the text seriously (this is the kind of project only a dedicated confessionalist would do because it's not a "critical edition" but instead designed to make an old text be usable broadly). As a bonus, you also get Cranmer's fine homily on justification included.

1662's morning and evening prayer are still a bit complicated with the back and forth, but IVP has how to use guides, and as Jacob said, the collects are quite exceptional and usable regardless of time in the "church year." They're actually great to learn how to pray in a Trinitarian frame of reference.

https://www.ivpress.com/pages/content/book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-free-resources-faq - The family prayer guides are not bad if you need something shorter.

The Commination service has probably one of the shortest and sharpest Law/Gospel sermons you'll ever read.

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I'd generally substitute M'Chenye for the lectionary since I have 0 interest in reading the Apocrypha as a scripture reading, but it's really hard to match reading an average of 5 psalms per day in addition to the 4 chapters of Scripture a day.

 

[Pilgrim]

Look into the 2019 ACNA version, then. It's not perfect, but it is infinitely better than the TEC's 1979 version.

Anglican Church in North America – 2019 Book of Common Prayer

It looks like that's what this app uses, but you have to scroll way down to get to the collects. It definitely confirms that the Daily Offices readings would be time consuming, which is one reason why I never got into the BCP before. I do see that they helpfully have a briefer "Family Prayer at the Close of the Day" that is designed to be used with families that include young children. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-daily-office/id1513851259 The web version is here https://classic.dailyoffice2019.com/

I've downloaded some other apps in the past, but I think they probably use the 1662.

 

[Pilgrim]

ACNA's is pretty complicated and messy, including putting the filioque in brackets in the liturgy[!]. Especially for a non-Anglican Reformed person using it personally and in a family setting, I highly recommend the 1662 International Edition:

InterVarsity Press - The 1662 Book of Common Prayer

www.ivpress.com

This version is like a lightly updated KJV in terms of the language, faithfully done by two confessional laymen who take the text seriously (this is the kind of project only a dedicated confessionalist would do because it's not a "critical edition" but instead designed to make an old text be usable broadly). As a bonus, you also get Cranmer's fine homily on justification included.

1662's morning and evening prayer are still a bit complicated with the back and forth, but IVP has how to use guides, and as Jacob said, the collects are quite exceptional and usable regardless of time in the "church year." They're actually great to learn how to pray in a Trinitarian frame of reference.

https://www.ivpress.com/pages/content/book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-free-resources-faq - The family prayer guides are not bad if you need something shorter.

The Commination service has probably one of the shortest and sharpest Law/Gospel sermons you'll ever read.

---

I'd generally substitute M'Chenye for the lectionary since I have 0 interest in reading the Apocrypha as a scripture reading, but it's really hard to match reading an average of 5 psalms per day in addition to the 4 chapters of Scripture a day.

Interesting, especially since it suggests that IVP has managed to publish something worthwhile in this decade. Well, there's all of those ex-Baptists and ex-Pentecostals who are fleeing the Trumpists in their old churches and now looking into Anglicanism to consider....

Seriously, it is good to have one that doesn't have the prayers for the King, etc.

 

[Jack K]

Especially if your family includes kids, the best resource for family devotions will depend on your particular family situation. But even with kids, one of the chief considerations ought to be to find a resource that engages mom and dad. Watching as mom and dad engage with God and his Word is great for kids. And there are many sections of the Book of Common Prayer that are better than 99% of what passes for devotional material in America today. So if you like it, it's probably an excellent option.

 

[Theoretical]

Seriously, it is good to have one that doesn't have the prayers for the King, etc.

The way they did it is footnote the prayers for the King as alternates for those in Commonwealth jurisdictions, and the prayers for the state are either taken from the 1928 American and the 1960 Ghana prayer books

A Prayer for All Those in Civil Authority. ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite: Have mercy upon this whole land, and so rule the hearts of all in authority, [especially — ,] that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all the people, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honour them, according to thy blessed word and ordinance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. 1928 BCP

¶ Or this. ALMIGHTY Father, whose kingdom is everlasting: We beseech thee of thy mercy to direct and prosper the counsels of all those who bear authority in this land, that in humility and honesty they may faithfully serve the people committed to their charge. And grant, we pray thee, that religion and piety, peace and unity, truth and justice, may be established among us for all generations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1960 BCP

It looks like that's what this app uses, but you have to scroll way down to get to the collects. It definitely confirms that the Daily Offices readings would be time consuming, which is one reason why I never got into the BCP before. I do see that they helpfully have a briefer "Family Prayer at the Close of the Day" that is designed to be used with families that include young children. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-daily-office/id1513851259 The web version is here https://classic.dailyoffice2019.com/

I've downloaded some other apps in the past, but I think they probably use the 1662.

Drew N. Keane, Samuel L. Bray; Drew N. Keane; Samuel L. Bray. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer (Kindle Locations 3295-3307). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

It looks like they're going to be coming out with a how to guide: https://www.ivpress.com/how-to-use-the-book-of-common-prayer

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[Jake]

1928 American BCP is commonly used in traditional Anglican churches in the US but it introduces prayers for the dead. I have one of these copies and like some of the prayers but have not used it besides for reference.

 

[Ploutos]

Thank you for the helpful insights. I will be wary of any problematic theology if/when I use the BCP in my private or family devotions - as I am with anything I read or use - but it sounds like there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the use of such an aid. I hadn't thought there was, but then if I was content to rest on my own understanding, I wouldn't be asking!

 

[Pilgrim]

1928 American BCP is commonly used in traditional Anglican churches in the US but it introduces prayers for the dead. I have one of these copies and like some of the prayers but have not used it besides for reference.

I think there is something about the Lord's Supper, maybe that also made it more high church or Romish. My understanding is that it has been somewhat like that from the beginning because Samuel Seabury, who was responsible for the 1st USA BCP, used the rite from the Scottish Episcopal prayer book rather than the 1662 BCP and that the theology of the Scottish BCP was less sound. But I don't know if that would impact the portions one would use in private worship.

I'm thinking that what you noted about the 1928, and the American prayer books in general, may help explain why so many "conservatives" end up gravitating toward Anglo-Catholicism. And it isn't just conservatives. Going back decades people would say that a certain prominent Episcopal congregation in my home town was more "Catholic" or high church than the post-Vatican II RC congregations.

 

[Jake]

I think there is something about the Lord's Supper, maybe that also made it more high church or Romish. My understanding is that it has been somewhat like that from the beginning because Samuel Seabury, who was responsible for the 1st USA BCP, used the rite from the Scottish Episcopal prayer book rather than the 1662 BCP and that the theology of the Scottish BCP was less sound. But I don't know if that would impact the portions one would use in private worship.

I'm thinking that what you noted about the 1928, and the American prayer books in general, may help explain why so many "conservatives" end up gravitating toward Anglo-Catholicism. And it isn't just conservatives. Going back decades people would say that a certain prominent Episcopal congregation in my home town was more "Catholic" or high church than the post-Vatican II RC congregations.

By the way, if you can't find your copy to reference, it is because it is on my shelf!

I'm not sure about the Lord's Supper passage. I haven't thought closely enough about that section of the BCP before though.

I do think there is something to that theory though. It seems even a lot of conservative Anglican bodies have gone towards high church views (like the REC and other dioceses of the ACNA). In asking around ACNA circles the 1928 BCP is considered the traditional option, with some ACNA churches even using 1979. So if there was already anglo-catholic language in these it is not surprising to see that trajectory.

 

[Theoretical]

My understanding of it is that the English, Irish, Canadian BCPs are one "stream" based on the 1552 Prayer Book as mostly adopted in 1559 and 1662. This includes a more distinctly Reformed Communion service than the Scottish/American Prayer Books that are based on the 1549, which is more Lutheran in orientation. The 1552 came out of reforms and changes suggested by Vermigli and Bucer.

For daily use, Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in the 1662 are pretty unobjectionable. If you don't want to use the optional hymn partially based on the apocrypha (Benedicite, omnia opera), it's based on Psalm 148, so I just use that (and could even use it exclusively if you only wish to sing inspired texts).

The thing that's tricky about the BCP is that in many ways it IS the "larger catechism" of the Anglican church in that the doctrine is baked into the set liturgy for a given situation (marriage, baptism, burial, etc...) rather than separated off into questions and answers. To the extent it's solidly Reformed, which the 1662 definitely is in many parts, it's fantastic, with some areas being especially superb (Trinitarian prayers and how to pray rich and meaningful short prayers more generally). The extent and breadth of the scripture readings in Morning and Evening prayers, especially the Psalms, provide a real challenge.

To the extent it's either Lutheran or Anglo-Catholic, depending on the version (newer is worse for the most part), those compromises really creep up. What a lot of the "trendy" Anglicans neither realize nor care about if they do is that one of the biggest Puritan objections to the BCP, especially the 1662, is that all of those feasts and fasts beyond even the "normal" "holy days" like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and the like are mandatory and confessional, and there's a LOT of them. It's a pretty heavy yoke in my opinion. 4 centuries removed from the conflicts and in an age where even a little conformity would be an improvement over most of what passes for Anglicanism, the issues are different.

But Morning and Evening Prayer are quite good and worthwhile to chew on, especially if devotional time is a little stale, as well as some of the prayers within other sections of the book.

 

[Ploutos]

My understanding of it is that the English, Irish, Canadian BCPs are one "stream" based on the 1552 Prayer Book as mostly adopted in 1559 and 1662. This includes a more distinctly Reformed Communion service than the Scottish/American Prayer Books that are based on the 1549, which is more Lutheran in orientation. The 1552 came out of reforms and changes suggested by Vermigli and Bucer.

For daily use, Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in the 1662 are pretty unobjectionable. If you don't want to use the optional hymn partially based on the apocrypha (Benedicite, omnia opera), it's based on Psalm 148, so I just use that (and could even use it exclusively if you only wish to sing inspired texts).

The thing that's tricky about the BCP is that in many ways it IS the "larger catechism" of the Anglican church in that the doctrine is baked into the set liturgy for a given situation (marriage, baptism, burial, etc...) rather than separated off into questions and answers. To the extent it's solidly Reformed, which the 1662 definitely is in many parts, it's fantastic, with some areas being especially superb (Trinitarian prayers and how to pray rich and meaningful short prayers more generally). The extent and breadth of the scripture readings in Morning and Evening prayers, especially the Psalms, provide a real challenge.

To the extent it's either Lutheran or Anglo-Catholic, depending on the version (newer is worse for the most part), those compromises really creep up. What a lot of the "trendy" Anglicans neither realize nor care about if they do is that one of the biggest Puritan objections to the BCP, especially the 1662, is that all of those feasts and fasts beyond even the "normal" "holy days" like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and the like are mandatory and confessional, and there's a LOT of them. It's a pretty heavy yoke in my opinion. 4 centuries removed from the conflicts and in an age where even a little conformity would be an improvement over most of what passes for Anglicanism, the issues are different.

But Morning and Evening Prayer are quite good and worthwhile to chew on, especially if devotional time is a little stale, as well as some of the prayers within other sections of the book.

Thank you. I appreciate these thoughts. I'll look for a way to get familiar with it in my private devotions before considering whether it has a place in our family devotions. It is helpful to know what to look out for.