1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer: Churching of Women

The thankesgiving of women after
Childe-birth, commonly called,
The Churching of women.

¶ The woman shall come into the Church, and there shall kneel down in some convenient place, nigh unto the place where the Lords Table standeth, and the Presbyter standing by her, shall say these words, or such like as the case shall require.

FORasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodnesse to give you safe deliverance, and hath preserved you in the great danger of childe-birth : ye shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God and pray.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter say this Psalme following, Or else Psalme the 27.

I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hils from whence cometh my help.
    My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
    He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : hee that keepeth thee will not slumber.
    Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.
    The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
    The sunne shall not smite thee by day ; nor the moon by night.
    The Lord shall preserve thee from. all evil : he shall preserve thy soul.
    The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth and even for evermore.
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne : and to the holy Ghost.
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Lord have mercie upon us.
Christ have mercie upon us.
Lord have mercie upon us.
OUR Father which art in heaven, &c.
And leade us not into temptation.

Answer.

But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Presbyter.

O Lord save this woman thy servant.

Answer.

Which putteth her trust in thee.

Presbyter.

Be thou to her a strong tower.

Answer.

From the face of her enemie.

Presbyter.

O Lord heare our prayer.

Answer.

And let our cry come unto thee.

Presbyter.

¶ Let us pray.

O ALmighty God, which hast delivered this woman thy servant from the great pain and perill of Child-birth : grant, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, that she, through thy help, may both faithfully live and walk in her vocation, according to thy will in this life present, and also may be partaker of everlasting glorie in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ The woman that cometh to give her thanks, it is convenient that she receive the holy Communion, if there be any at that time.

Psal. 121.