A Companion to the Book of Common Prayer (1st edition.)

The Book of Common Prayer stands as one of the greatest achievements ofthe English Reformation. Although increasingly replaced by more modern forms,it remains the foundation of Anglican worship and a succinct expression ofAnglican doctrine as received by its sixteenth and seventeenth-century authors.It is therefore a text to be treasured and used, both for its historicalinsight into the Church of England's theological origins, and for its continuedvalue as an enriching liturgical resource.

In this Companion, Gerald Bray provides a practical guide to the1662 text and its underlying doctrinal basis. Outlining its development fromthe first version of the prayer book in 1549, through the Elizabethansettlement and the upheaval of the civil war and protectorate, he shows thatmany of the liturgical controversies and debates we see today are nothing new.With the inclusion of a summary of the history of the text, and an extensivebibliography for further reading, A Companion to the Book of Common Prayerwill unlock this seminal text for a fresh generation of worshippers.