Which Book Of Common Prayer Should I Get?

John Shrewsbury · Jan 4, 2015

I would like to start using the Book of Common Prayer in my daily worship but am unsure which one to use as there appear to be so many listed on Amazon and elsewhere. Any suggestions would be valued, thank you! Incidentally, I am in the United Kingdom, (England) and in the Diocese of Lichfield.

High Fidelity · Jan 4, 2015

Morning!

Funnily enough, I JUST had mine arrive!

I was a little disappointed as I was expecting the gilded pages like in the user photos, but it's still a lovely book nonetheless.

This is the one I ordered. If you'd like some pictures of that, I can oblige!

Liberasit · Jan 4, 2015

I would recommend visiting your local Christian bookshop and seeing what they have. They will all be CofE versions, but you can see for yourself about overall size, coverings, text size, dividing ribbons etc.

If you are going to use it regularly, you have to be comfortable with it, or it will fall into disuse.

For me, I use an app.

John Shrewsbury · Jan 4, 2015

Thanks for the replies!

High Fidelity · Jan 4, 2015

Just took some pictures for scale and whatnot, will upload them now.

High Fidelity · Jan 4, 2015

Scale; http://i.imgur.com/kF60fOC.jpg
Front; imgur: the simple image sharer
'Contents'; http://i.imgur.com/379zSS0.jpg
Random page; http://i.imgur.com/PPWYCP8.jpg

Liberasit · Jan 4, 2015

I just want to reiterate supporting your local Christian bookshop. I love Amazon, but they have really made local book shops struggle. Christian bookshops are charitable trusts and they really do an amazing service to the Christian community.

Tigger45 · Jan 4, 2015

James Tiberius Kirk said:
Scale; http://i.imgur.com/kF60fOC.jpg
Front; imgur: the simple image sharer
'Contents'; http://i.imgur.com/379zSS0.jpg
Random page; http://i.imgur.com/PPWYCP8.jpg

Thanks for posting pic James. It was very helpful.

graceandpeace · Jan 4, 2015

John Shrewsbury said:
I would like to start using the Book of Common Prayer in my daily worship but am unsure which one to use as there appear to be so many listed on Amazon and elsewhere. Any suggestions would be valued, thank you! Incidentally, I am in the United Kingdom, (England) and in the Diocese of Lichfield.

My first inclination would be to look in the church's pew, & purchase that BCP to start (or maybe the church has a copy they would give you).

Liberasit · Jan 4, 2015

graceandpeace said:
My first inclination would be to look in the church's pew, & purchase that BCP to start (or maybe the church has a copy they would give you).

Do they have BCPs in pews?

Albion · Jan 4, 2015

Liberasit said:
Do they have BCPs in pews?

Sure. What is the policy in the UK?

Liberasit · Jan 4, 2015

Albion said:
Sure. What is the policy in the UK?

I've never seen one in any of the churches I have visited. We just have a bible in the seat back, as we project liturgy or print out what we use in the specific service.

In less modern places, I have seen a hymnary (they will have a little board on the wall where they slot in a tile with the hymn number), and a slender book or pamphlet with the service liturgy they commonly use.

These places don't typically have bibles or wifi, so you have to either bring your own bible or hope for a decent mobile signal.

John Shrewsbury · Jan 4, 2015

Albion said:
Sure. What is the policy in the UK?

It depends on the individual church. Most have them at the back along with the Bibles and hymn books. Some put them out, but they are few are far between here.

John Shrewsbury · Jan 4, 2015

James Tiberius Kirk said:
Scale; http://i.imgur.com/kF60fOC.jpg
Front; imgur: the simple image sharer
'Contents'; http://i.imgur.com/379zSS0.jpg
Random page; http://i.imgur.com/PPWYCP8.jpg

Thank you!

G19shooter · Jan 6, 2015

Liberasit said:
Do they have BCPs in pews?

It's funny. In the 7 or so Episcopal Churches I have gone to in the US, they have all had a BCP in the pew, but they were never used (most almost looked brand new) because there was always a printout for the Sunday mass.

I wouldn't mind using the book to save some paper. But I remember as a newcomer to the church, I was so thankful there was an easy pamphlet to follow.

PaladinValer · Jan 6, 2015

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Common...6160&sr=1-2-fkmr2&keywords=1549+1559+1662+BCP

I highly recommend it. Get three-in-one!

seeking.IAM · Jan 6, 2015

Consider font size! The only one I have was a gift at my confirmation. It is a "personal-sized" one. I find the font much too small for pleasant reading and I am about to buy one more useful. I am much too young to keep a magnifying glass beside my bed!

VolRaider · Jan 6, 2015

My church always had the 1979 (or78?) in the pews. Today, the church has them both in the pews and printed out. I have a copy of that one along with the '28. My parents' church (APA) used the '28.

John Shrewsbury · Jan 7, 2015

PaladinValer said:
The Book of Common Prayer: The Texts of 1549, 1559, and 1662 by Cummings, Brian published by Oxford University Press, USA (2011) Hardcover: Amazon.co.uk: unknown: Books

I highly recommend it. Get three-in-one!

That is brilliant! Thank you.

ebia · Jan 8, 2015

Albion said:
Sure. What is the policy in the UK?

The Common Worship main volume was never designed to be used regularly in services - the intention always was that parishes would make up their own booklets, project it, or whatever, from the particular parts they chose to use. With that in mind the text has always been available for free for the parishes to do just that.

The book itself has too many options to make a good service book without a training course on how to use it.

On the other hand, the Common Worship main volume is essentially for eucharistic services.

The Daily Prayer volume is considerably more usable with a bit of time spent understanding how it works.

Which Book Of Common Prayer Should I Get?

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