Cross in golden gate park, san francisco, commemorating the first bcp service in the u. The book of common prayer is one of the major works of. The prayer book was in use only about eight months before queen marys. The book of common prayer and administration of the sacraments. Liturgies and occasional forms of prayer set forth in the reign of queen elizabeth classic reprint. Book of common prayer bcp is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the anglican communion, as well as by other christian churches historically related to anglicanism. In one of the first moves to undo cranmer the queen insisted that the words of administration from the 1549. After the first collect, at morning or evening prayer, the following collect. Mary died in 1558 and, in 1559, elizabeth i reintroduced the 1552 book with modifications to make it acceptable to. Book of common prayer bcp is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the. In imitation of queen elizabeths book of christian prayers on.
It was also at the core of english liturgical life throughout the. This was the prayer book of queen elizabeth i, john donne, and richard hooker. O lord our heavenly father, high and mighty, king of kings, lord of lords, the only ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth. It included a few small but significant changes, which allowed for belief in the real presence of christ in the eucharist and removed from the litany an offensive prayer against the pope. Printed by grafton 1559 england, church of, elizabeth i queen of england on amazon. This prayer book, as well as the first prayer book of queen elizabeth is reign dating from 1559, are among the treasures on display in the librarys 400 th anniversary exhibition, open until 23 rd july. Book of common prayer and elizabeth i comfortable words. Hear the most humble voice of thy handmaid, in this only happy, to be so accepted. Litanies, the english prayer book of 1559, the godly prayers, the ordinal of 155. The book of common prayer has shaped english spirituality for nearly 450 years. Elizabeth i, who ruled for 44 years, is a figure of enduring fascination and this treasured possession acts as a tangible link with the great queen. Prayer book used by elizabeth is courtiers discovered by. Queen elizabeth i o most glorious king, and creator of the whole world, to whom all things be subject, both in heaven and earth, and all best princes most gladly obey. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign of edward vi, was a product of the english reformation following the break with rome.
The book of common prayer and administration of the. A prayer composed by queen elizabeth i 15331603 o most glorious king, and creator of the whole world, to whom all things be subject, both in heaven and. It also contained one of the earliest english inscriptions of. With queen marys death in 1558, the accession of her halfsister elizabeth to the throne brought an end to papal. The work of 1549 was the first prayer book to include the complete. Printed from the originals in the british museum and other public libraries, with an historical introd. Queen elizabeth i prayer book lambeth palace library. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This book of common prayer was not created in a vacuum, but derives from several. After elizabeth i became queen in 1558, the prayer book of 1552 was restored by another act of uniformity 1559. Commonly called the first book of queen elizabeth, printed by grafton, 1559. The book of common prayer 1559 the elizabethan prayer book the prayer book of 1559 was the third revision for the anglican church, and was brought about by the accession to the throne of elizabeth i and the restoration of the anglican church after the sixyear rule of the catholic queen mary. It was, in fact, a 1594 book of common prayer from the royal household that would have been used by queen elizabeth is courtiers.