EASTER 2025
ASH WEDNESDAY
Service at 7.30pm Wednesday, 5th March
GOOD FRIDAY
Service at 2pm Friday, 18th April
EASTER SUNDAY
Service at 11am Sunday, 20th April
All welcome! Please join us.
Service at 7.30pm Wednesday, 5th March
GOOD FRIDAY
Service at 2pm Friday, 18th April
EASTER SUNDAY
Service at 11am Sunday, 20th April
All welcome! Please join us.
WEEKLY SERVICES
SUNDAY
11am SUNG EUCHARIST (BCP) approx. one hour
FRIDAY
12.30pm HOLY COMMUNION approx. 35 mins
11am SUNG EUCHARIST (BCP) approx. one hour
FRIDAY
12.30pm HOLY COMMUNION approx. 35 mins
Style of Worship: Book of Common Prayer
St. Mary’s is part of the Church of England and our principal worship follows the Book of Common Prayer.
The Book of Common Prayer is essentially the work of Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) – archbishop to King Henry VIII and Edward VI. Originating in mediaeval Catholic prayer books, which were in Latin, and drawing heavily on Protestant Reformed service books, the first national prayer book (King Henry VIII’s Primer) appeared in English in 1545. It was not until 1549 however, that the book first bore the title ‘Book of Common Prayer’. The title itself was of some significance as, from the very beginning, it was to serve as a prayer book for the entire English nation, and gave Anglican spirituality its distinctive character.
A religion for all
Cranmer wanted to recover the original purity of the age of the apostles, and to make worship accessible to all the people of England. He took the old sevenfold monastic rhythm of common prayer and created from it just two daily services – Morning and Evening Prayer, both of which were to be recited not just for the people but by them – and in English rather than Latin. This kind of daily common prayer was recorded in the Acts of the Apostles as the practice of the first Christians and Cranmer was determined to restore it.
Spirituality for everyday life
This was to be a lay spirituality, not a complex monastic or priestly activity watered down for simpler tastes. The prayers and thanksgivings in the prayer book are for a rich variety of secular needs: for rain, a good harvest, peace, for those at sea. In essence, the Book of Common Prayer looked to integrate religion with everyday life and included the clear setting out of moral standards.
A local religion
The Book of Common Prayer is peculiarly English in tone, not only in its approach to the monarchy, but also in its use of the rhythms and richness of the English language in what was to be commonly regarded as its golden age.
Praying in church
The prayer book made an important contribution, not only to the congregation, but also to an evolving spirituality of buildings. Christ is not restricted to the church; but He is present there for as long as His teaching governs and animates the lives of His people. It is this synthesis of scripture and daily life, which the prayer book was designed to uphold.
The Book of Common Prayer is essentially the work of Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) – archbishop to King Henry VIII and Edward VI. Originating in mediaeval Catholic prayer books, which were in Latin, and drawing heavily on Protestant Reformed service books, the first national prayer book (King Henry VIII’s Primer) appeared in English in 1545. It was not until 1549 however, that the book first bore the title ‘Book of Common Prayer’. The title itself was of some significance as, from the very beginning, it was to serve as a prayer book for the entire English nation, and gave Anglican spirituality its distinctive character.
A religion for all
Cranmer wanted to recover the original purity of the age of the apostles, and to make worship accessible to all the people of England. He took the old sevenfold monastic rhythm of common prayer and created from it just two daily services – Morning and Evening Prayer, both of which were to be recited not just for the people but by them – and in English rather than Latin. This kind of daily common prayer was recorded in the Acts of the Apostles as the practice of the first Christians and Cranmer was determined to restore it.
Spirituality for everyday life
This was to be a lay spirituality, not a complex monastic or priestly activity watered down for simpler tastes. The prayers and thanksgivings in the prayer book are for a rich variety of secular needs: for rain, a good harvest, peace, for those at sea. In essence, the Book of Common Prayer looked to integrate religion with everyday life and included the clear setting out of moral standards.
A local religion
The Book of Common Prayer is peculiarly English in tone, not only in its approach to the monarchy, but also in its use of the rhythms and richness of the English language in what was to be commonly regarded as its golden age.
Praying in church
The prayer book made an important contribution, not only to the congregation, but also to an evolving spirituality of buildings. Christ is not restricted to the church; but He is present there for as long as His teaching governs and animates the lives of His people. It is this synthesis of scripture and daily life, which the prayer book was designed to uphold.
