Common Prayer, The Book of

Common Prayer, The Book of, was evolved in the 16th cent. to meet the popular need for aids to devotion and the demand for the use of the vernacular in church services. The reading in churches of a chapter of the Bible in English, and the Litany in English (probably the work of Cranmer), were introduced in 1544, and an English communion service in 1548. About the same time the Primers were revised, and the King's Primer issued in 1545 in the interest of uniformity; it included the English Litany. Cranmer and a commission each drafted a scheme for a prayer book, and these were discussed in Edward VI's reign, leading to the successive issue of the Prayer Books of 1549 and 1552. In the latter the form of the Book of Common Prayer was practically settled, though a revision was made under Elizabeth (1559), minor changes under James I, and the final text is that of 1662. As it stands the Prayer Book represents largely the work of Cranmer; N. Ridley may perhaps claim some share.

Alternative forms of service in contemporary language were published in 1980 and recommended for general use in church services in preference to the 1662 Prayer Book. This gave rise to vigorous argument as to the respective merits of attempting to improve the congregation's understanding of the liturgy and of preserving its traditions and literary qualities.