THE CHURCHPEOPLE'S
PRAYER BOOK
AND
THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALMS
AND A TABLE OF LESSONS
AND
SIX FORMS OF FAMILY PRAYER
SNOWDEN & CO.
SOMERSET HOUSE, MONMOUTH
Certain extracts from the Prayer Book,
as proposed in 1928, are included in
"The Churchpeople's Prayer Book" by
permission of the Central Board of
Finance of the Church of England.
Printed and made in Great Britain
Joyce & Sons (Newport) Limited,
9 Cambrian Road,
Newport, Mon.
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This alternative to the rejected 1928 Book of Common Prayer was compiled by Alfred Edwin Monahan (1877-1945), Archdeacon of the Diocese of Monmouth in Wales at the time, and later bishop of Monmouth.
It follows the 1928 BCP fairly closely, but with the omission of many rubrics and occasional shortening and rearrangement of services. It appears to be an attempt to produce a more "user-friendly" Prayer Book, as it, for example, includes only those rubrics needed to enable the congregation to follow the service.
Although the short biography available for Bp. Monahan implies that he had Anglo-Catholic leanings (he "accepted the principle of reservation of the blessed sacrament in church and also permitted devotional services of Benediction"}, that is not at all evident in this book. For example, the Presider at services is nearly always referred to as "Minister" except in those places where Priestly action is required. Also, the Eucharistic Prayer is greatly shortened, omitting the oblation, epiclesis, and intercessions.
This book appears in David Griffiths' Bibliography of the Book of Common Prayer as 1935/2; it was reprinted at least once. This and the number of copies available used indicate that it enjoyed at least some popularity, both in Wales and elsewhere.
The major services are given here in HTML (links below in the Table of Contents); the entire book is also provided as PDF graphics with text "behind" the images. |
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COMMENDATION
BY
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF WALES
I gladly welcome The Churchpeople's Prayer Book for the Laity of the Province of Wales. It gives them just what they want. Under its guidance they will find their way easily through each service, and join in it as they are meant to do.
Within the Province of Wales the Clergy, in Public Prayer and administration of the Sacraments, are bound to use the official book of 1662, and none other, except so far as shall be ordered by lawful authority. But there is no reason at all why the Clergy should not distribute The Churchpeople's Prayer Book in their congregations.
I hope that it will be used widely by the Laity. Its general adoption will undoubtedly improve Public Worship.
FOREWORD
BY
THE LORD BISHOP OF MONMOUTH
I cordially recommend The Churchpeople's Prayer Book to the Clergy and Laity of the diocese of Monmouth.
Among the characteristics by which the book is distinguished are two to which I desire to call attention.
In the first place the doctrinal standpoint of the Book of Common Prayer is most scrupulously maintained. In this volume the balance and proportion of emphasis is precisely that of the Book, which through three centuries of use has become the most cherished possession of the Churches of the Anglican Communion. Such changes and additions as appear are in exact harmony with the spirit of the old Book.
In the second place The Churchpeople's Prayer Book wisely makes use of the resources of arrangement, and of variety of type in order to meet the needs of the present-day worshipper. It makes no pretension to be an authorized alternative to the Book of Common Prayer. In a sense it is an experiment in revision, strictly limited to the presentation of the old prayers in a somewhat simplified arrangement, with some very brief and purely explanatory changes of language.
Additional prayers for special occasions are added, which will be found to be appropriate in guiding and leading the intercessions of the congregation.
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Bp. Monahan (undated photo)
(courtesy Ron Thompson)
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