laudable Practice

Today is the 220th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a victory which destroyed Napoleon's naval power and constrained his imperial ambitions. In the weeks following, a royal proclamation appointed Thursday 5th December as "a General Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the late signal and important Victory - obtained by His Majesty's Ships of War, under the Command of the late Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, over the combined Fleets of France and Spain". ' A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God ' was duly issued for use in the United Church of England and Ireland.  Across the Kingdom, in the dark and cold of that early December day, those attending divine service would have heard Trafalgar remembered in a context defined by the weight, seriousness, and ultimate significance of Christianity: it was the 'Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God' which gave moral and spiritual meaning to the victory and the ongoing time of war. Thi...

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...

To the people of Vienna (Mamercus being their Bishop, about 450 years after Christ) there befell many things, the suddenness and strangeness whereof so amazed the hearts of all men, that the city they began to forsake as a place which heaven did threaten with imminent ruin. It beseemed not the person of so grave a prelate to be either utterly without counsel as the rest were, or in a common perplexity to shew himself alone secure. Wherefore as many as remained he earnestly exhorteth to prevent portended calamities, using those virtuous and holy means wherewith others in like case have prevailed with God. To which purpose he perfecteth the Rogations or Litanies before in use, and addeth unto them that which the present necessity required. Their good success moved Sidonius Bishop of Arverna to use the same so corrected Rogations, at such time as he and his people were after afflicted with famine, and besieged with potent adversaries. For till the empty name of the empire came to be settl...

A reflection on praying with the Book of Common Prayer during the time of national mourning and the King's accession. O Lord, save the King. For the last time in my life, I prayed the petition 'O Lord, save the Queen' at Evensong on 8th September. Before Mattins on 9th September, following the example of Anglican clergy in these Islands over centuries at the beginning of a new reign, I carefully wrote into this petition 'the King', and changed the name of the Sovereign in the state prayers.   I was very aware that any Anglican and Episcopalian in the United Kingdom, and praying the daily offices according to the Book of Common Prayer, was doing the same thing.  The new reign was beginning with our prayer for the King across "all the whole realm", a prayer that would be offered each day, morning and evening.   O Lord, save the King. The word has multiple meanings.  Save the King in this time of grief, upholding and sustaining him.  Save the King amidst...

During this time of national mourning, words from Jeremy Taylor, originally addressed to Princess Mary, daughter of the Royal Martyr, are fittingly applied to the second Elizabeth: for a long time, your devotion hath been eminent, your obedience to the strictest rules of religion hath been humble and diligent, even up to a great example, and that the service of God hath been your great care and greatest employment; your name hath been dear and highly honourable amongst the sons and daughters of the church of England: and we no more envy to Hungary the great name of St. Elizabeth, to Scotland the glorious memory of St. Margaret, to France the triumph of the piety of St. Genevieve, nor St. Katharine to Italy, since in your royal person we have so great an example of our own, one of the family of saints. Posts on laudable Practice will resume after the period of national mourning. God Save the King.