laudable Practice

Sitting on my desk, alongside a somewhat battered Church of Ireland BCP 1926, is a hard-backed copy of a 1973 Alcuin Club study, by Timothy J. Fawcett - The Liturgy of Comprehension 1689: An abortive attempt to revise The Book of Common Prayer . It is, I think, the only published study of the Liturgy of Comprehension, the attempted revision of the Prayer Book in the immediate aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, in an attempt to reconcile Dissenters to the Church of England. It sits on my desk for two reason. Firstly, because it influenced the Church of Ireland post-disestablishment revision of the Prayer Book. Secondly, because of my affection for John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury 1693-97, a strong supporter of William and Mary, and a leading figure in the proposed revision of 1689. It is not that I welcome all the suggested revisions of 1689. Some, I think, would have been unwise and de-stabilising for the Church of England and 18th century Anglicanism. Some were unnecessary,...

As we resume our readings from Robert Nelson's The Life of Dr. George Bull (1713), we find Nelson describing family devotions in the Bull household. It provides a fascinating insight into a crucial aspect of Church of England piety throughout the 'long 18th century': household prayers were a feature not only of clerical households but also expected in many lay households.  Nelson begins by noting that extemporary prayer was not a feature of the Bull household's family devotions. This introduces us to a characteristic of domestic piety in Church of England families throughout this period, contrasting with, for example, both Puritan and Methodist household piety. The absence of extemporary prayer was, Nelson explained, a question of what we best in shaping devotion: Upon these Occasions Mr. Bull did not give himself the Liberty of using Prayers of his own Composing, though he was very well qualified for what is called extempore Prayer, if he would have ventured upon suc...

It was odd that the Presiding Bishop of TEC chose the Fourth of July this year - the 249th anniversary of the United States declaring its independence - to denounce and renounce "the Protestant tradition of patriotism ... as a tool of dominion". One might wonder why "the Protestant tradition of patriotism" is the particular target of the Presiding Bishop: Catholic and Orthodox patriotisms, after all, cannot be seriously claimed to have avoided the failures known to the Protestant tradition. As for the Presiding Bishop suggesting that TEC in 2025 equates to the Confessing Church in Nazi Germany, this is nothing more than the progressive version of  Eric Metaxas'  partisan manipulation of Bonhoeffer - equally unserious, no less delusional. Leaving aside the fact that this clumsy stance only succeeds in handing over to others the formative and influential "tradition of Protestant patriotism", it is also reveals a deep dislike of the heritage of the Prote...

The recent announcement of three new ecclesiastical patrons for the Prayer Book Society was a moment of quiet joy and hope amidst, let's be honest, the decidedly grim landscape of North Atlantic Anglicanism. That the three bishops represent various streams of Anglican thought and spirituality is itself a sign of how - amidst much division - the Book of Common Prayer can provide nourishing common ground for different varieties of Anglicans. This, of course, has been part of the historical vocation of the BCP, a shared, common order of prayer, sacrament, and blessing for differing, indeed, even rival, theological tendencies - Laudian and Reformed Conformist, Calvinist and Arminian, Latitudinarian Whig and High Church Tory, John Keble and J.C. Ryle. In addition to this aspect of the announcement, however, the various insights offered by the three bishops on the continued significance and place of the Prayer Book is particularly refreshing and encouraging. Bishop Jane Steen of Lynn po...

I noticed a recent discussion on Anglican 'X' between a 1662 appreciator in the United States and a priest of the Reformed Episcopal Church who uses the PECUSA 1928 BCP. The 1662 appreciator pointed to BCP 1662 as "the standard for global Anglicanism". The Reformed Episcopal priest responded by saying that Anglicanism is "primarily expressed locally" rather than "globally" and that this therefore entails a nationally authorised liturgy, as opposed to any universal claim for 1662. As readers of laudable Practice will be aware, I have a great love of 1662. I had, however, no hesitation in agreeing with the "primarily expressed locally" view. Perhaps it is the Burkean in me, deeply sceptical of abstract claims for universal human authorities, removed from particular circumstances and polities. And then there is the voice of Jewel , affirming the rights and liberties of a national church: Yet truly, we do not despise councils, assemblies, an...

Today is the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the Anglo-Allied and Prussian victory which delivered Europe from the decades of wars and invasions provoked by Napoleon's ambitions. On the eve of Waterloo, the Reverend George Griffin Stonestreet, chaplain to the Guards regiments, administered the Holy Communion in Brussels. Later that day, many of the officers and men in Brussels would be required to assemble and march with haste, as Napoleon's forces moved towards the Anglo-Allied positions at Waterloo. The chalice used at the service (pictured below) is kept in the Guards Museum . On the same day, there was a report that the Chaplain General, John Owen, "gave an address to British troops". Previously, as a Brigade Chaplain, Owen had been warned by officers and men about placing himself too close to the front line. His response had been that his primary duty was "to be of service to those now departing this life". It seems that seven chaplains wer...

Yes, you read the title right. But fear not, you stalwart devotees of the 'High and Dry' way, you staunch 'Two Bottle Orthodox' sort. Let me assure you that laudable Practice has not been hijacked by dastardly Puseyites. The old English surplice will continue to be worn, and there will be absolutely no lace on this site. So what is today's post about? It has its origin in two quite different moments. One was Maundy Thursday this year, when I was preaching for a dear friend, an Anglo-catholic. For a brief moment in the eucharistic prayer, I became aware of our different traditions: he was vested in a chasuble and elevated the consecrated elements. What immediately popped into my head was the phrase "how Lutheran". Much more of which shortly. I then returned to my prayers and received from my friend the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood. The second moment was reading an aggressive, and dislikeable, Roman Catholic commentator respond to a post ...