Church of Ireland Cross The Book of Common Prayer
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    The Book of Common Prayer
of the Church of Ireland (1926)

 

BCP Title Page


PRINTED IN DUBLIN BY THE
CHURCH OP IRELAND PRINTING AND
PUBLISHING CO., LTD.,
61 MIDDLE ABBEY STREET.


 


THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK.

1. The Prefaces
2. The Order how holy Scripture is appointed to be read
3. The Calendar
4. Tables and Rules for the Feasts and Fasts through the whole year
5. Table of Proper Psalms
6. Table of Lessons
7. General Directions for Publick Worship
8. The Order for Morning Prayer
9. The Order for Evening Prayer
10. The Litany
11. Prayers and Thanksgivings
12. The Psalter, with the Order how it is appointed to be read
   
(from the Church of Ireland site)
13. The Creed (commonly called) of St. Athanasius
1.4. The Order for the Administration of the Holy Communion
15. The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels
16. A Penitential Service
17. A Form of Thanksgiving for the Blessings of Harvest
18. Forms of Prayer for the Anniversary of the Accession of the Sovereign
19. The Ministration of Publick Baptism of Infants
20. The Ministration of Private Baptism of Children
21. The Order for Publick Reception of Children privately baptized
22. The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of Riper Years
23. A Catechism
24. The Order for Confirmation
25. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony
26. The Churching of Women
27. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick
28. The Communion of the Sick
29. The Order for the Burial of the Dead.
30. An Order for the Burial of Children who have been baptized
31. The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons
32. The Publick Institution of a Minister
33. The Service to be used on the first Sunday on which a Minister officiates in the Church of a Cure
34. The Form of the Consecration of a Church
35. The Form of the Consecration of a Churchyard or other Burial Ground
36. Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea.

APPENDIX

37. Alternative Forms of Evening Prayer


 

Prior to 1801, the Prayer Book of the Church of Ireland was nearly identical to that of the Church of England, and, then from 1801 until 1871 they were completely identical as the two Churches were united. After 1871, however, the Church of Ireland became independent and disestablished, and so developed its own Prayer Book in 1878. There was a revision in 1926, which is presented here. This book, and a more recent Alternative Prayer Book, were replaced by a single Book of Common Prayer in 2004.

Some of the changes made in 1878 include:

  • Removal of all the "black-letter Saints" from the lectionary
  • Additions in the Prayers and Thanksgivings
  • De-emphasis of the Athanasian Creed
  • In Baptism, parents may be sponsors of their own children
  • Sponsors are not required in Confirmation
  • A question is added to the catechism specifying that there is no transubstantiation of the bread and wine
  • A number of services have been added, including a Thanksgiving for Harvest, Institution of Ministers, Consecration of a Church, Consecration of a Burial ground, and the Visitation of Prisoners
  • Perhaps the most distinct feature is the adding of the Canons at the end, which tend to emphasize the 'Protestant' nature of this Church; the Church of Ireland has always seemed to wish to distinguish itself as clearly as possible from the dominant Roman Catholic Church
  • There are a number of additional minor changes from the 1662 BCP.

The Book was revised, but not extensively, in 1926. St. Patrick and the Transfiguration were added to the calendar; the order of services was rearranged somewhat; The Commination and Visitation of the Sick Services were completely changed; the Visitation of Prisoners service removed, and a service for the Burial of Children was added.

After 1926, a number of minor changes were made, most of which were concerned with Ireland's gaining independence and leaving the Commonwealth.

The actual text presented here was taken from a Book published in 1936 by the APCK, the title page of which may be seen at left. Reference is made to a more recent edition for any changes made since that time. Prayers for the Royalty, however are from the 1936 Book, and so refer to George VI and his family.

We also have the entire book available as PDF graphics. There are bookmarks for navigation and extractable text; note, however, that the text has not been proofread and undoubtedly contains errors. See below for a link.

38. Articles of Religion (from the Church of Ireland's web site)
39. A Table of Kindred and Affinity within which none may marry together
40. Preamble and Declaration adopted by the General Convention in the year 1870
41. Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical
Download the entire book as PDF graphics (size=21MB).

 

Web author: Charles Wohlers U. S. EnglandScotlandIrelandWalesCanadaWorld