Singing Unto the Lord as Anglicans

by The Rev'd Dr Peter Toon

When “The Book of Common Prayer” of 1552 was made the official Prayer Book of the reign of Elizabeth I (thus BCP, 1559) a Royal Injunction accompanying that re-enactment stated:

“That in the beginning or at the end of Common Prayers, either at morning or evening, there may be sung a hymn or such like-song…in the best sort of melody or music that may be conveniently devised, having regard that the sense of the hymn may be understood and perceived.”

Of course it was also possible for the priest and parish clerks to sing instead of say parts of the service as written but this Injunction made possible genuinely hearty congregational singing.

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