"And especially in Advent": liturgical observances for Advent in the 17th century Church of England

Some sense of how the season of Advent was given due liturgical recognition in the 17th century Church of England can be found in two examples from opposite ends of the century. The first is from Cosin's 1627 visitation articles, while Archdeacon, of the Archdeaconry of East Riding in the Diocese of York:

Whether doth your Minister at certain times of the year, as, for order's sake, yearly upon one of the 3 Sundays next before Easter, upon one of the 2 Sundays next before Pentecost, and upon one of the 4 Sundays in Advent, and specially at the beginning of Lent, upon Ash Wednesday, plainly and distinctly read the form of Commination against sinners, with the prayers thereunto annexed.

The second is from Archbishop Sancroft's 'Instructions to the Clergy of the Church of England', 1689:

That they perform the Daily Office publicly (with all Decency, Affection, and Gravity) in all Market and other Great Towns, and even in Villages, and less populous Places, bring People to Public Prayers as frequently as may be; especially on such Days, and at such Times, as the Rubric and Canons on Holy-days, and their Eves, on Ember and Rogation Days, on Wednesdays and Fridays in each Week, and especially in Advent and Lent.

From the opening years of the reign of Charles I to the first year of the reign of William III, from 15 years before the Civil Wars to the year of the Revolution Settlement, we see here authoritative directions for serious liturgical observance of Advent, recognising it as a preparation for the feast of the Nativity (hence the comparison with Lent).

(The photo is of Bubwith Church in the East Riding of Yorkshire.)

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laudable Practice

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