PREFATORY NOTE.

THIS book contains the text of the Book of Common Prayer altered and enlarged in accordance with the proposals of the Prayer Book Revision Committee of the English Church Union, first published in October 1922. These proposals were expressed in the form of amendments to the 'Schedule of Alterations' contained in the Second Report of the Prayer Book Revision Committee of the National Assembly (N.A. 60). It has been felt, however, that the technical character of this form, while necessary in the first instance, and easily comprehensible to those who have time to study the English Church Union Report in conjunction with N.A. 60 and the present Prayer Book, may to a certain extent stand in the way of an accurate understanding of the import of the Union's suggestions by Churchmen in general; and the President and Council have therefore decided to print a model Prayer Book in extenso, in order to exhibit, in a popular and easily intelligible form, the exact effect which their proposals, if sanctioned by authority, would have. It need hardly be said that this book, though it is identical with what the Union would like to see in the hands of English church-goers, is not meant for liturgical use, but is published, for the moment, merely as an essay in liturgy-making, designed to facilitate and clarify discussion and to educate opinion.
    The principles which governed the formulation of the Union's proposals have been explained in the Report of the Prayer Book Revision Committee, and need not be further discussed here. Certain small questions, however, of a purely mechanical and redactional character, and not involving any theological or other principle, have emerged in the process of editing this 'Suggested Prayer Book', and it will be well to state what has been done in regard to them.
    (1) In the proposed title-page, the word 'authorized' is, of course, not intended to prejudge the decision of authority in regard to the particular proposals made by the English Church Union; it is printed merely because it would have in any case to appear on the title-page of any alternative Prayer Book.
    (2) The greater part of the Prefaces prefixed to the present Book of Common Prayer has necessarily been omitted, inasmuch as their language, implying as it does that the Reformation belongs to a comparatively recent past, that the confusions of the Commonwealth are only just over, and that King Charles II is still on the throne, is clearly inapplicable to a Revision carried through in the reign of King George V.
    (3) The Psalms are printed from the Prayer-Book Version as it at present stands. It has been thought premature to take account of the emendations proposed in the Revised Psalter Measure (N.A, 89), as there are matters both of principle and of detail which obviously need much discussion before those emendations are approved.
    (4) In the case of the Gospels to be read on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, the proposals of the 'Schedule' of the National Assembly's Committee, which have been accepted by the Union's Committee, are in that 'Schedule' expressed in the form of somewhat complicated rubrics giving permission for the full traditional 'Passions' as alternatives. For the sake of typographical and literary effect, as well as for the convenience of the lay worshipper, the complicated rubrics in question have been omitted, and the 'Passions' have been printed as part of the text, on the assumption that, as the use of the whole Book or of any part of it (see Measure, 1 (1), lines 5, 6) will be optional only and not compulsory, those who do not wish to use the long Passion narratives will be at liberty to revert to the shorter Gospels prescribed in the present Book of Common Prayer, Another such simplification has been adopted in regard to the Union's own proposals for the Gospels of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Holy Week, and the National Assembly's Committee's proposals for an alternative Epistle and Gospel on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Easter Week.
    (5) The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels which follow 'the Commemoration of All Souls' have been rearranged in what appears to be a somewhat more logical and convenient sequence than that in which they are placed in the Measure.

OFFICE OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH UNION,
    April 16, 1923.
 

[Suggested Title-page]

A BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER

and

Administration of the Sacraments and other
Rites and Ceremonies of the Church,
authorized for use in the
Church of England

Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David,
pointed as they are to be Sung or said in
Churches, and the form and manner of
Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating
of Bishops, Priests. and Deacons

THE
CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK.

1. CONCERNING the Service of the Church
2. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read.
3. The Order how the rest of Holy Scripture is appointed to be read .
4. Table of Proper Psalms for Sundays and Holy days
5. The Table of Lessons
6. The Calendar
7. Tables and Rules for the Feasts and Fasts through the year.
8. The Order for Morning Prayer .
9. An Order for Prime
10. The Order for Evening Prayer .
11. An Order for Compline
12. Quinqunque Vult.
13. The Litany
14. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several occasions
15. The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels to be used throughout the Year
16. A Form of Preparation before the Holy Communion
17. The Order of the Ministration of the Holy Communion
18. The Order of Baptism, both public and private.
19. The Order of Baptism for those of riper years
20. The Catechism
21. The Order of Confirmation
22. An Alternative Order for Confirmation
23. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony
24. The Order tor the Visitation of the Sick, and the Communion of the Sick
25. The Order for the Burial of the Dead
26. Prayers which may be used at the burial of a baptized child
27. A Service which may be used when the Order of the Burial of the Dead may not be used.
28. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth
29. A Commination, or Denouncing of God's anger and judgements against sinners.
30. The Psalter
31. Forms of Prayer to be used at sea
32. The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
33. Forms of Prayer for the Anniversary of the Day of Accession of the Reigning Sovereign
    Articles of Religion

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CALENDAR.