The Book of Common Prayer
What is the BCP?
Contrary to some beliefs outside of the Episcopal Church, the BCP is not a substitute for the Bible. It is our book of worship and contains private prayers and other services.
The full title of the Book of Common Prayer is "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church." As it sounds, the BCP includes the common liturgies for all the various rites and practices of the church, including the Morning and Evening Offices, the Eucharist, Ministration to the Sick, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and many others.
A Brief History
The Book of Common Prayer is the foundational prayer book of the Church of England. It was one of the instruments of the Protestant Reformation in England, and was also adapted and revised for use in other churches in the Anglican Communion. It replaced the various Latin rites that had been used in different parts of the country with a single compact volume in English. First produced in 1549, it was drastically revised in 1552 and more subtly changed in 1559 and 1662. A modern liturgical text bearing the BCP name is widely used in the Episcopal Church of America as well as some Methodist churches.
You can view an online version of The Book of Common Prayer here.
Contrary to some beliefs outside of the Episcopal Church, the BCP is not a substitute for the Bible. It is our book of worship and contains private prayers and other services.
The full title of the Book of Common Prayer is "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church." As it sounds, the BCP includes the common liturgies for all the various rites and practices of the church, including the Morning and Evening Offices, the Eucharist, Ministration to the Sick, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and many others.
A Brief History
The Book of Common Prayer is the foundational prayer book of the Church of England. It was one of the instruments of the Protestant Reformation in England, and was also adapted and revised for use in other churches in the Anglican Communion. It replaced the various Latin rites that had been used in different parts of the country with a single compact volume in English. First produced in 1549, it was drastically revised in 1552 and more subtly changed in 1559 and 1662. A modern liturgical text bearing the BCP name is widely used in the Episcopal Church of America as well as some Methodist churches.
You can view an online version of The Book of Common Prayer here.
