It is generally assumed that this book is largely the work of archbishop thomas cranmer pictured below, but, as no records of the development of the prayer book exist, this cannot be definitively determined. Cranmer s blog is meetingplace for christians from different parts of the body. And in englishlanguage worship, thomas cranmer, born just over five hundred years ago, in 1489, is the protestant forefather who formulated the most articulate and beautiful compendium of christian prayers, services, and liturgies. The book of common prayer was written by cranmer when he was archbishop of canterbury and was first published in 1549 in the reign of edward vi. The book of common prayer represents an attempt by thomas cranmer to introduce church reform in england. The text used here is from a reprint, the first and second prayerbooks of edward vi, published in 1910 as part of everymans library.
Ultimately, after a long time of discussions, reworkings, and compromises, the church produced the 1662 version which is still used today. But he was also determined to give substance to the newly established. The book of common prayer, thomas cranmers lasting liturgy for the church of england, now extended worldwide to the anglican communion, is a literary masterpiece his words contained profoundly embedded into the very cultural soul of the british people, the lyrical vernacular deeply imprinted into every english speaking person worldwide. I chose the book of common prayer as the topic of this post because anglicanism proclaims itself as a via media and this is an anglicanbased blog. The book of common prayer bcp has had an illustrious and checkered career since archbishop thomas cranmer first introduced it to the church of england back in 1549, almost five hundred years ago. When thomas cranmer was appointed archbishop of canterbury in 1533, his chief responsibility was to secure for henry viii a divorce from catherine of aragon.
Thomas cranmers prayer book was published on january 15th, 1549. As archbishop, he put the english bible in parish churches, drew up the book of common prayer, and composed a litany. The 1549 book of common prayer society of archbishop justus. With this book cranmer replaced the several latin volumes that contained the rituals and worship materials of the roman catholic church. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer place for truth. The book of common prayer 1549 this book of common prayer was not created in a vacuum, but derives from several sources. His parlour is the galleried room overlooking the altar in the archbishops chapel. As archbishop, he put the english bible in parish churches, drew up the book of common prayer. After the usual school education he was sent to cambridge, and was chosen fellow jesus college. Thank you jesus for archbishop thomas cranmer and for his work of dedication and service. While serving as archbishop under edward vi, cranmer shaped the doctrinal and liturgical transformation of the church of england, placing the english bible in churches and, in 1552, revising the book of common prayer. The book includes written prayers, of course, but also much more.
The books chief maker, thomas cranmer, archbishop of canterbury, created it as the authoritative manual of christian worship throughout england. Pope francis has proclaimed archbishop thomas cranmer a doctor of the universal church in recognition of his bold witness of faith and his contribution to divine worship and liturgy. Archbishop cranmer and the prayerbook tradition anglican foundation. An evangelistic liturgy churchman 1061 1992 samuel leuenberger 1. The book of common prayer is the abbreviated title of the official liturgical service book of the church of england, originally commissioned by king edward vi 15371553 to direct the worship of the anglican church. Cranmer wrote the book of common prayer for the whole nation. Madeglobal publishing is offering one copy of the paperback version of thomas cranmer. This day in tudor history, 9th june 1549, was a big day for the english reformation. The first prayer book, enacted by the first act of uniformity of edward vi in 1549, was prepared primarily by thomas cranmer, who became archbishop of canterbury in 1533. The book of common prayer of the church of england. Common book of prayer thomas cranmer title page of thomas cranmers book of common prayer,1549. This convention having, in their present session, set forth a book of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the church, do hereby establish the said book. Thomas cranmer archbishop of canterbury britannica.
The first prayer book, enacted by the first act of uniformity of edward vi in 1549, was prepared primarily by thomas cranmer, who became archbishop of. A grateful henry made cranmer his aide in carrying out the divorce and in 1533 made cranmer archbishop of canterbury. Thomas cranmer is often remembered for his last dramatic hours of this life. The prayer book of 1662, with minor changes, has continued as the. The book of common prayer is part of the fabric of the english language. Shortly after more died, thomas cranmer faced comparable difficulties in his role as archbishop of canterbury, the most senior and powerful bishopric in england. The 1552 book of common prayer society of archbishop justus. And so a consultation of bishops met and produced the first book of common prayer.
He envisioned both clergy and laypeople, and all classes of society, holding the book in hand, hearing and reading it for spiritual nourishment and worship. The book of common prayer gets a glossary sojourners. During this time of physical separation, the body can remain united when it is one in spirit. Archbishop cranmers somberly magnificent prose, read week. This is the room in which we know that cranmer studied, wrote and prayed. Book of common prayer, liturgical book used by churches of the anglican communion. Book of common prayer project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Cranmers greatest achievement, the book of common prayer, was issued in march 1549. It included a new liturgy in english, as opposed to the old liturgy in latin. When parliament met again at the end of the year, its main business was the passing of the first act of uniformity, requiring the clergy to adopt a new book of common prayer. Thomas cranmer, the architect of the anglican book of common prayer, was the archbishop of canterbury who guided england through the early reformationand henry viii through the minefields of divorce. Anglicans remember thomas cranmer primarily as the compiler of the book of common prayer, but history remembers him more as the archbishop of canterbury who enabled henry viii to divorce catherine of aragon and marry anne boleyn, declaring himself as supreme governor of the church of england and establishing englands independence from rome. After edward vis death, thomas cranmer supported lady jane grey as successor. Cranmers blog is meetingplace for christians from different parts of the body. This book of common prayer was not created in a vacuum, but derives from several sources. It was on this day, at whitsun services all around england, that archbishop thomas cranmers book of common. The book of common prayer is an anointed book and helps you read the bible systematically and be in the true doctrine of the word. Cranmers book of common prayer, the liturgy of the anglican church including the episcopal church, is known for its memorable expression of christian theology.
The book of common prayer has also influenced or enriched the liturgical language of most englishspeaking protestant churches. In his censura bucer gave many suggestions as to how the book of common prayer could become a faithawakening liturgy, and i want to mention some of the most important. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer by the revd david garrett a dithering ecclesiastical hamlet, an heretical schismatic, and an heroic defender of reformed christianity, thomas cranmer has been vilified and praised with such words by his own and every succeeding generation. The book of common prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the anglican communion, as well as by the continuing anglican, anglican realignment and other anglican churches. Cranmer compiled the book of common prayer, which still forms the basis of all our worship in the anglican church today. The earliest work, published in 1549, was the first prayer book to contain the complete forms of service for daily and sunday worship in the english language. Inside lambeth palace the archbishop of canterbury. First authorized for use in the church of england in 1549, it was radically revised in 1552, with subsequent minor revisions in 1559, 1604, and 1662. And the form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of bishops, priests, and deacons. The book of common prayer everymans library classics. For the determinative texts and thinkers of the anglican tradition, such as william laud, thomas cranmer, and the book of common prayer, the right handling of the word of truth 2 tim. Thomas cranmer was descended from an ancient family, and was born at the village of arselacton, in the county of northampton. First and foremost was the sarum rite, or the latin liturgy developed in salisbury in the thirteenth century, and widely used in england. Archbishop thomas cranmer book of common prayer 1549 although thomas cranmer is often considered by historians to be a cautious reformer, his marriage liturgy composed for the church of england in the book of common prayer introduced a very radical and innovative concept.
Cranmer was a remarkable man not only a theologian, but also a liturgical scholar, a writer, and the chief pastor of a national church. Under henry viii, cranmer had been slowly drifting into protestantism. An evangelistic liturgy theological studies in england and the u. Introduction theological studies in england and the u. The text originally appears to be taken from an edition published by edward whitchurche or whytchurche of london, or. Cranmers death was immortalised in foxes book of martyrs and his legacy lives on within the church of england through the book of common prayer and the thirtynine articles, an anglican statement of faith derived from his work. Cranmer had risen to prominence by suggesting means to implement henry viiis muchdesired divorce from catherine of aragorn.
After signing four documents of submission to papal authority and. But as jacobs recounts, the book has had a variable and dramatic career in the complicated history of english church politics, and has been the focus of celebrations, protests, and even jail terms. Under the reign of edward vi, cranmer was allowed to make the doctrinal changes he thought necessary to the church. In 1549 he helped complete the book of common prayer, for which his contributions are wellknown. First and foremost was the sarum rite, or the latin liturgy developed in salisbury in the thirteenth century, and widely used in. Prayers in english had already been included in the latin services, and complete english services had been introduced at st pauls and other london churches, but now for the first time the only legal services throughout the country were to be those in english provided in the new book of common prayer, which was issued with the act. Compiled in the sixteenth century by thomas cranmer, and. It was also much simpler than the old roman catholic missal, giving prominence to the reading of scriptures, and restoring the lords supper to a distribution of both bread and wine to the laity. This exhibition of the four hundred year old book of common prayer and its progeny showcases a book that is not only used for public worship and private prayer but, by its liturgical excellence, holds a special place in the evolution of english language and literature. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer authorstream. Yet, it was in great measure due to him that the english church emerged from the fierce ordeal retaining, unimpaired, her ancient faith and apostolic succession. This is the first major biography of him for more than three decades, and the first for a century to exploit rich new manuscript sources in.
And, indeed, that is what it has provided for millions of christians for more than four centuries. Thomas cranmer 14891556, editor and coauthor of the first and second books of common. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer the first entry in the common saints series, on the man and book that set the course for anglican doctrine. She is here to share an excellent article on thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer thanks beth. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer reformed worship. That year william pickering, the london publisher famed for the beauty of his typography, issued an elegant reprint of six historic prayer books, all in folio size, based closely on the prayer books of 1549, merbeckes 1550 prayer book noted, 1552, 1604, 1637 and 1662. Thomas cranmer and the book of common prayer the common. The book of common prayer is central to the christian faith as practised by the church of england. Thomas cranmer, born july 2, 1489, aslacton, nottinghamshire, englanddied march 21, 1556, oxford, the first protestant archbishop of canterbury 153356, adviser to the english kings henry viii and edward vi. And they declare it to be the liturgy of this church. This book appears in david griffiths bibliography of the book of common prayer as 191010. Biography of thomas cranmer, english protestant reformer. Thomas cranmer, the first protestant archbishop of canterbury 153356, adviser to the english kings henry viii and edward vi.
31 1086 1367 918 1271 1003 1405 1522 789 1110 750 789 39 418 1579 257 78 1315 732 643 873 932 45 776 49 57 1020 753 1373 1392