Monday, March 31, 2003

COMMON WORSHIP & the QUEEN

Here are my observations on the relation of the new Liturgy of the C of E to the earthly Head of the same Church!

It is a summary of the first part of my sermon at Evensong in Belvoir Castle on 30th March at the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the Dukedom of Rutland.


In the Litany of The Book of Common Prayer (1662), which is appointed to be used on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, after Morning Prayer, we pray for the Sovereign, the Royal Family and the Nobility. There are three distinct petitions for the Sovereign, one for the Royal Family, and one for the Nobility. The latter is: "That it may please thee, O God, to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom and understanding."

Further, each day in Morning and Evening Prayer, as we use this same Prayer Book, we offer the appointed prayers for the Queen's Majesty and for the Royal Family. Then each Sunday, again as we use this same Prayer Book, we always make two petitions for the Queen at Holy Communion, one before the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and one in the Prayer for the Church militant here on earth.

However, if we choose to use Common Worship (2000-2004), the multi-volume alternative to the one small volume which is The Book of Common Prayer, then we find that we are under no requirement or rubric to pray for the Queen either in Morning and Evening Prayer or in Holy Communion. We may do so if we wish; but, there is no obligation at all to pray for the Supreme Governor of the Church of England by law established. Though there are prayers provided for the Sovereign and the royal family to be used if we feel so moved, they are not required as necessary ingredients for Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion. The same also is true of the new Litany which does contain one petition for the Queen of 22 words; yet it is in a section of the Litany which may be omitted! In this same Litany there is no prayer at all for the Royal family. And in the whole of the multi-volume Common Worship there are no prayers provided at all for the Nobility.

It is most surprising to me that the General Synod did not make sure that the modern ideology of contemporary liturgists concerning Shape and Content (or Structure and Ingredients) in relation to services was not modified to ensure that in an Established, National Church where the Queen is the Supreme Governor, the daily Liturgy required (not made possible according to whim and fancy) prayer for the Queen's Majesty and related petitions.

Regrettably the provisions of Common Worship can be interpreted as a sign of the Church calling for dis-establishment through the means of teaching people NOT to pray for the Queen, the royal family and the nobility!

Those who use faithfully The Book of Common Prayer (1662) will continue to pray fervently for the Queen, the Royal Family and the Nobility.

(Please visit the new Prayer Book Society on-line store (coming soon) -- below anglican marketplace)

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon

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