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TRANSCRIPT
A Corporate Act of Prayer
Members of the Society are encouraged to join together in saying the following Collect
at the same time in their own homes, at 10.00 p.m. each Sunday evening.
THE COLLECT OF THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITYO LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend
thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy
succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
© The Prayer Book Society 2013
Individual articles are © the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Editor, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the
appropriate reprographics rights organisation.
Issue No. 32 · Trinity 2013ISSN: 1479-215X
THE PBS JOURNAL
Editor:
The Revd Canon Andrew Hawes
Address for correspondence:
The Prayer Book Society, The Studio,Copyhold Farm, Goring Heath,Reading RG8 7RT
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President:Lord Cormack, DL, FSA
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Cover Image: An appreciative audience for the CranmerAwards Finals at the Royal York Hotel. PhotographyHelen Peters.
The deadline for contributions for thenext issue is: Friday, 6th September 2013 (preferably typed or electronically submitted)
Publication date: Friday, 25th October 2013
‘The Blessing of the Holy Ghost’—60 Years On . . . 4
The Prayer Book at . . . St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, Kent 5
Cranmer Awards Finals 2013 6A Personal View of the Cranmer Awards 9A Living Tradition of Power and Beauty 10Patterns of Prayer 13Prayer Book and Scripture 14Is less Humble Access leading to more
arrogance? 17Composer of BCP Collect settings
voted into Classic FM Hall of Fame 18Correspondence 20Book Reviews 21News from the Branches 23Forthcoming Events 27Branch Contacts 30
CONTENTS
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Filling vacancies in Prayer Book
parishes
There can be little doubt that the most effective way
of ensuring the continuation of worship from the
Book of Common Prayer in a parish is to make sure
that, when filling a vacancy for a new parson,
someone with strong personal sympathy to the
Prayer Book is appointed. To this end, and thanks to
the efforts of our Churches and Clergy Co-ordinator,
John Service, we now have a list of over 70 non-
retired clergy, sympathetic to the Book of Common
Prayer, who have asked to be kept informed of
vacancies in potentially suitable parishes. In
addition, we are able to provide information about
the legal rights of PCCs in relation to appointments.
If you are a member of the congregation at a church
which has a significant commitment to the Book of
Common Prayer for a large proportion of its
services, please do let John Service know as soon as
a clerical vacancy arises. Information from our
members about impending parish vacancies is
vitally important, alongside the details we receive
from a variety of other sources. All information
received will, of course, be handled with discretion.
John Service can be contacted by e-mail at
[email protected], or via the PBS office at
Copyhold Farm.
3
You can help a Prayer Book Church!There was a page about St Thomas à Becket Church,
Cliffe, Lewes, in the Lent Journal. St Thomas’s worship
on Sundays and weekdays is wholly Prayer Book and
the church is a Corporate Member of the Prayer Book
Society. The beautiful building now has an urgent
structural problem. About £20,000 is needed to avoid
a collapse of the nave. Meanwhile the church is closed
to visitors but services continue, somehow. For more
details visit their excellent website at www.st-thomas-
lewes.org.uk. Contributions to the restoration can be
made to the Treasurer, c/o 1 The Moorings, South
Street, Lewes BN7 2BW, Tel: 01273 475053, cheques
payable to St Thomas à Becket Church, or make a bank
payment to sort code 20-49-76, account 90261130.
Donations are certainly a way of helping Prayer Book
worship.
My mother (who was then recently
widowed) acquired a television set for
the family in time for Christmas 1952.
Many families did the same and, in South Wales,
we watched with fascination as black and white
pictures flickered before us. We even viewed swans
gliding along a river during the ‘intermissions’
between programmes, times when hot or cold
drinks could be poured before a bell rang—as it
did towards the end of an interval in a theatre—
recalling us to the next enthralling Act or Scene.
True, television had existed just before the Second
World War but the transmission then was
restricted to the London area and not far beyond it.
In the early post-war years the BBC was beginning
to spread its wings and extend transmissions. But
why the sudden surge of interest at Christmas
1952? Answer: the forthcoming Coronation of
The Queen in June 1953. Everyone around us
wanted to have a TV set in good time.
For many people today it seems incredible that
this summer 60 years will have elapsed since our
Sovereign Lady The Queen was anointed and
crowned. The Coronation was a time of acute
expectation—mingled with prayer, excitement and
patriotism.
The Coronation service is a complex and
multi-faceted one, and here I am concentrating on
only one aspect of it. The service appeared to be a
mirror of the history of our nation—how our
ancestors lived and our nation was formed. We
tend to intertwine civil and ecclesiastical, sacred
and secular in a way no republic can. A coronation
brings into sharp focus the mutual relationship of
Sovereign, Church and People. For all three it
invokes the blessing and protection of Almighty
God.
Even before the Norman Conquest, kings were
anointed with oil, stressing the honour and
dignity of kings as the ‘Anointed of the Lord’.
Anointing was a biblical practice. Saul, chosen
when the Israelites asked for a king, was anointed
by the Prophet Samuel. And so also have our
monarchs been anointed with Holy Oil. Anointing
was used in 787, for example, and indeed in 973
when Edgar became the first King of All England
and was crowned on Whit Sunday by St Dunstan.
The religious importance attached to this is
eloquently expressed in the words uttered by
Shakespeare’s Richard II on the invasion of
Bolingbroke:
Not all the water in the rough rude sea
Can wash the balm from an anointed King.
In 1953 the anointing oil was prepared from
pure olive oil, poured into the ampulla and, before
the ceremony, placed on the high altar. It was then
consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
During the service itself, at the anointing, two
items were used—the ampulla and the spoon—
which were the only two items of Coronation
regalia which survived destruction at the hands of
the Parliamentarians after the Civil War.
Somehow the British can mix together
religion, history and legend. There is a legend that
the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Thomas à
Becket whilst he was on a visit to France and gave
him the ampulla, together with holy oil, for
anointing English kings. The ampulla (a Latin word
for a globular vessel which the Romans used for
holding liquids and ointments) was lost but later
found by the Black Prince and brought to England.
Anyway, together with the spoon it survived the
Commonwealth, a post-Civil War period of
oppression when the established Church of
England and the Book of Common Prayer were
driven underground until the Restoration of the
monarchy in 1660.
As my fellow members of the Prayer Book
Society will most surely know, the Book of
Common Prayer in its original form was
introduced by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in
1549. Cranmer, in addressing King Edward VI at
his Coronation in 1547, said of kings:
For they be God’s anointed, not in respect of
the oil which the bishop useth, but in
consideration of their power which is
‘The Blessing of the Holy Ghost’—60 Years On . . .
Anthony Kilmister
4
ordained, of the sword which is authorised,
of their persons which are elected by God,
and endued with the gifts of His Spirit for
the better ruling and guiding of His people.
At the 1953 Coronation the anointing was a
deeply affecting section of the service. It was
hidden (though not to be coy) from the television
cameras since it was undertaken beneath a canopy
or pall brought forward by four Knights of the
Garter. The Queen and the Archbishop were
engaged in a supremely special moment. By the
anointing and the delivery to her of the regalia,
The Queen gained not only a temporal authority
but also a spiritual sanction.
It was clear for all to see that the spiritual
significance of that unfolding drama and the
majesty and splendours of the day were focussed
on the person so anointed. I can hardly believe it
was 60 years ago and I shall forever be grateful.
God bless our noble Queen.
Anthony Kilmister OBE was one of the Founders in 1972
of what came to be the Prayer Book Society and continues as one
of our Vice-Presidents.
It was Mr Dann in his letter to the PBS Journal
(Lent 2013 edition, p.20) who prompted us to
write about the weekly Prayer Book services at
St Martin’s and in particular the ministry of the
choir at these services. St Martin’s is a Corporate
Member of the Prayer Book Society. The parish
church of Chelsfield is dedicated to St Martin of
Tours. The earliest parts of the current church
building were constructed in the 12th century.
A tower and chapel were added in the 13th
century, a porch in the 15th century and the
current clergy vestry in the 19th century. An
extension, known as the Brass Crosby Rooms, in
the north-west corner of the church was
completed in February 2007.
St Martin’s Church is in the preservation area
of Chelsfield Village within the Green Belt area of
London. It is situated on the top of the North
Downs, 450 feet above sea level and, although well
screened by mature trees, the gilded weather vane
on the spire is a local landmark. From the tower a
panoramic view of the City of London just fifteen
miles away can be seen.
Four services are held each Sunday, starting
with Said Communion at 8.00 a.m. This is
followed by an All-Age Service which starts at 9.45
a.m. Every second Sunday incorporates a church
parade and every fourth Sunday a Common
Worship (CW) Communion. The 11.00 a.m.
service is either Sung Eucharist or Matins. There is
CW Eucharist on the fifth Sunday of the month
and finally Evensong commences at 6.30 p.m.
People stay for refreshments after Evensong and
the All-Age Service.
St Martin’s has an active, four-part harmony,
adult, robed, choir which sings at the 11 a.m. and
6.30 p.m. services every Sunday, at weddings and
at various other special events and concerts
throughout the year. The choir sings an anthem
each week and holds choir practice on Friday
evenings from 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in the
church.
For details contact:
The Revd Canon Andrew Hawes is Editor of the Prayer
Book Society Journal.
The Prayer Book at . . . St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, Kent
Andrew Hawes
St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, Kent
5
Dozens of young people, together with
their parents and teachers plus many
members and friends of the Prayer Book
Society, converged on the Royal York Hotel on
Thursday, 28th February for the National Finals of
the Cranmer Awards. This somewhat unusual
venue was chosen because local churches were
unable to meet our logistical requirements, but the
hotel looked after us well and proved ideal for our
needs.
The winners of the local Cranmer Awards heats
recited by heart their chosen passages from the
Book of Common Prayer, with a standard of
delivery which would do credit to any member of
the clergy conducting a Prayer Book service.
The winners in each age group were as
follows:
Seniors (15–18):
- First Prize: Alexander Pecanac (aged 16) from
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
- Second Prize: Emily Rimmer from the Isle of Man
- Third Prize: Jonathan Chard (aged 18) from
Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire
- Highly Commended: James Walker (aged 17) from
Yaxham, Norfolk
Juniors (11–14):
- First Prize: Arran Fearn (aged 11) from Nercwys,
Flintshire
- Second Prize: Jack Falconer from Hampshire
- Third Prize: Ross Entwistle from Lancashire
- Highly Commended: Laura Cooper (aged 14) from
Aldridge, Walsall
Cranmer Awards Finals 2013Prudence Dailey
Senior winner Alexander Pecanac receives his prize and
certificate from the Archbishop of York
The prizewinners. Back row L-R: Alexander Pecanac;
Jonathan Chard; Ross Entwistle. Front row L-R: Emily
Rimmer; Jack Falconer; Arran Fearn.
6
The Archbishop giving his address, flanked by the Judges (L-R): Mrs Alexandra Daborn; The Rt Revd Glyn Webster;
Miss Prudence Dailey (PBS Chairman); Mrs Lesley Cook (partially hidden); Mrs Rosemary Hall (partially hidden);
The Revd Dr Roger Beckwith; Miss Jennifer Hazan
We were privileged that the Archbishop of York,
the Most Revd and Rt Hon. Dr John Sentamu,
presented the prizes. He referred to ‘the richness of
the words in which countless thousands across the
centuries and across the world have praised God’,
and complimented the young entrants on the
‘clarity, deep feeling and real sensitivity’ with which
they had spoken those words. (The full text of his
address is reprinted on pages 10-12.)
The Society is most grateful to all those who
have given voluntarily and generously of their time
to enable the Cranmer Awards to take place, and in
particular to the National Organiser, Miss Merriel
Halsall-Williams; Nicholas Hurst, the Trustee who
chairs the Cranmer Awards Committee; and Ian
Woodhead, for his help with organising the Finals.
Prudence Dailey is Chairman of the Prayer Book Society.
Photography Helen Peters
Nicholas Hurst, Chairman of the Cranmer Awards
Committee, greets the Archbishop
7
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9
A Personal View of the Cranmer AwardsArran Fearn
I, Arran Fearn, was born in Chester and live in
North Wales. For the past four and a half years
I have been part of Kings School, where I have
been given the opportunity to perform publicly.
Kings encourages its students to participate in all
different activities, which helps build your
confidence. I am a member of both the debating
society and Model United Nations in school, and
very much enjoy the discussions. I regularly
participate actively in many of the debates.
Currently I am a lead chorister at Chester
Cathedral. I joined the cathedral choir in January
2008. I enjoy singing here and in the school
choirs. I also play the piano and cello. Being a
member of the Kings string groups and orchestras
gives me lots of experiences, through participating
in many concerts. I have a passion for music: I love
classical, opera, baroque and other styles. Last
November, I performed as Kurt in The Sound of Music
at the Liverpool Empire. I found this whole
experience exhilarating! It was something I will
never forget.
Through all my troubles, sorrows, needs and
sicknesses, the Book of Common Prayer has been a
‘light unto my feet’. It has taught me the rights and
wrongs of life, the ways in which I can praise God
the Father Almighty wholeheartedly and with all
my soul. It has guided me to love Jesus, to follow
him precisely and to do his works.
I was asked two years ago, after doing a reading
in the cathedral during my confirmation service, if
I would like to enter for the Cranmer Awards.
Unfortunately, being only nine at the time, I was
too young. However, last year, the same gentleman
requested me to enter again. As I was eleven and
eligible, I accepted. I won the heat at Macclesfield
back in November and was delighted to be
representing Chester Diocese at the National Finals
in York in February.
After discussing several passages with Canon
Chris Humphries of Chester Cathedral, we decided
that the ‘Magnificat’, ‘Nunc Dimittis’ and
‘The Marriage Feast at Cana’ were a good mix,
offering stories from different people’s
perspectives. Being a chorister, I regularly sing the
‘Mag’ and ‘Nunc’, but felt that saying them gave
me an opportunity to tell the stories and reflect on
their true meanings. I would like to thank Canon
Humphries for his guidance in helping me to
achieve this.
I am, of course, very pleased to have won such
a highly prestigious award, which attracts very stiff
competition from all over England. The standards
were very high and I felt proud to win, being the
youngest competitor too. A memory to cherish. It
was a pleasure to meet His Grace, The Lord
Archbishop again, as he is a very interesting
person whom I find inspiring to listen to. Even if I
had not won, it would have still been a fantastic
experience!
Arran was the winner of the Junior Section of the Awards.
Junior winner Arran Fearn giving his recitation
10
It is a great pleasure to be able to join you today
to celebrate the beauty of the Prayer Book and
to enjoy the richness of the words in which
countless thousands across the centuries and across
the world have praised God. What a joy to hear
those words spoken so beautifully by the young
people here today. Spoken with such clarity, deep
feeling and real sensitivity for the prayers and the
Word of God. The gift of speaking and hearing the
things of God are a great blessing from the Holy
Spirit, and I pray that the words these young
people have spoken today will remain with them
through their lives. For these are the words of
eternal life.
It is now more than 470 years since the Prayer
Book was crafted by Dr Thomas Cranmer,
Archbishop of Canterbury, and over 350 years
since it began to be used in its present form. That
is a wonderful heritage and tradition for our
Church to celebrate, and it is important not to lose
the treasures contained in it.
What are the gifts of the Prayer Book which we
value so much? When it came into being it was
revolutionary. One of the founding principles of
the Church of England when it became Catholic
and Reformed was that church services should be
‘in a tongue understanded of the people’ (as
Article 24 says in the Articles of Religion) so that
everyone present might be able to participate in
public prayer in the Church as well as the
administration of the Sacraments. And, once the
Book of Common Prayer was created in English, it
has subsequently been translated into many
languages, and in many countries. I myself grew
up using those very words in my worship of God
in my mother tongue, Luganda. And its cadences
are so musical it is not surprising that so many
beautiful settings have been composed for them.
A Living Tradition of Power and BeautyJohn Sentamu
The Archbishop of York at the Cranmer Awards Finals
11
In the churches all those centuries ago, a large
number of the congregation would have been
unable to read. But as we have heard today, the
poetry of the language lends itself to speaking
aloud—the rhythm and phrasing falls easily and
memorably on the ear; so that whether or not the
congregation could read the words, they could
hear, understand and remember them.
In fact, so much so that many of its words and
phrases have become part of our common
language—The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations contains
549 of the Prayer Book’s phrases. Some have
become so well ‘understanded of the people’ that
they have become the titles of television
programmes and books—‘Till Death us do Part’;
‘Ashes to Ashes’; ‘Devices and Desires’.
Continuity with the past, indeed, is the life-
blood of public language, and we do well to value
it.
Liturgically, too, the Book of Common Prayer
is a treasure for the Church. Firstly in the large
quantity of Scripture it contains—more than half
of it is in selected readings from the Bible. We have
heard them beautifully read for us today.
Indeed, the principal importance of
Archbishop Cranmer’s use of Holy Scripture lies in
establishing the ordered reading of Scripture as the
basis of common prayer. As well as providing a
large range of biblical passages for congregations
to hear and read together, it also contains the
riches of the elucidation of Scripture, tradition and
lived Christian experience, through the creeds and
the prayers.
This afternoon, we have enjoyed again the
richness of its language. These are words meant to
be heard. For many modernisers its language is
seen as a stumbling block; but, as with any poetry,
the language provides a way of conveying a
complex vision, the many-layered and rich
expression of creation and thought, through a
form which arouses our emotion and gives us
understanding beyond the surface meaning of the
words themselves.
In this the Book of Common Prayer perhaps
succeeds, better than many other forms, in
expressing the love and grace of God, his glory and
holiness, and the proper and faithful response and
service of his people.
Pentecost’s greatest gift for us is the gift of
hearing, and the words of the Book of Common
Prayer, containing as they do so much from
Scripture, express both in their form and content
the majesty and grandeur of God in a way which
people can hear and understand.
We sometimes make the mistake of thinking
that our modern versions are automatically more
intelligible to the modern mind, or to people of
other cultures and languages. This is to assume that
intelligibility is only a matter of paring down
language. What may be lost is the perception that
there are greater meanings that can be sought,
greater mysteries beyond the surface, which it
would profit us to search for and discover.
There may indeed be a case to be made that, if
the language we use is too banal, there might
appear to be nothing beyond the surface to be
discerned.
I am glad therefore that the Book of Common
Prayer is still a living spiritual tradition, and that
you all continue to celebrate and share in the
worship of God in the language that so many have
used before you. I am delighted too that this
language is a living reality for our children and the
generations who will follow them.
Sadly, the Book of Common Prayer is not often
used in parishes, and when it is it is at the early
morning service—not the most favoured time for
our young people.
But through this competition the beauty of
these words is lived and celebrated.
And of course the prayer that crowns it all for
me is the General Thanksgiving:
ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we
thine unworthy servants do give thee most
humble and hearty thanks for all thy
goodness and loving-kindness to us and to
all men; particularly to those who desire
now to offer up their praises and
thanksgivings for thy late mercies
vouchsafed unto them. We bless thee for our
creation, preservation, and all the blessings
of this life; but above all for thine
inestimable love in the redemption of the
world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the
means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And we beseech thee, give us that due sense
of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be
unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew
forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but
in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy
service, and by walking before thee in
holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom
with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour
and glory, world without end. Amen.
May God bless you and maintain you in everything
that is holy and good in your life of common
prayer.
As the Collect for the Fourth Sunday after
Trinity prays:
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in
thee, without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon
us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and
guide, we may so pass through things
temporal, that we finally lose not the things
eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for
Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.
Now listen to the Common Worship rendering
of the same:
O God, the protector of all who trust in
you, without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon
us your mercy; that with you as our ruler
and guide we may so pass through things
temporal that we lose not our hold on
things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive
and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Friends, I will go for the Book of Common
Prayer version. Please permit me to say it again,
and—if moved by the Holy Spirit—say the ‘Amen’
at the end.
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in
thee, without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon
us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and
guide, we may so pass through things
temporal, that we finally lose not the things
eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for
Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.
The Most Revd & Rt Hon. Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of
York, delivered this address at the 2013 Cranmer Awards
Finals.
12
As the dark days of winter pass towards the
light and warmth of spring, along with the
birds building their nests, and the bulbs
setting forth their flowers, we are encouraged to
hope. The Christian year attempts to catch this
rhythm as a way of living out the story of God’s
journey of creation and salvation. Each day there
has always been a tradition of morning and
evening prayer, so beautifully established in the
Church of England through the Book of Common
Prayer. The seven monastic daily Offices were
combined and simplified into two. The Canons still
require clergy to lead this pattern of prayer daily,
and to ring the church bell as a public sign of the
prayer which was to be offered. I wish more clergy
would observe these ancient and venerable
traditions, amid the many demands on their busy
lives.
Too much of the modern world has become
rather shapeless. Vegetables are not only available in
season, but—if we are prepared to pay for them—
are flown in from all over the world. Just about
everything is available as and when we want it. No
doubt there are many advantages in this, but there
are also losses. An unstructured life is usually an
undisciplined life, and Christian obedience will
always need its structure and discipline.
When I am able to do so, I slip quietly into
Chester Cathedral to participate in the daily sung
Evensong, led by the faithful and excellent choirs.
Whatever has happened during the day then
appears in a better perspective. Often, the music
recalls earlier times and events, and a favourite
hymn is sung. Perhaps the greatest of all evening
hymns, ‘The Day Thou Gavest’, was written in this
Diocese by John Ellerton, who was a vicar near
Crewe. But whatever our particular circumstances
or preferences, let’s find a structure and discipline
of praise and prayer which can give shape to our
lives, and help us on our journey with God and to
God.
Bishop Peter Forster is Bishop of Chester, and this article was
first published as his letter in the March Diocesan News.
Patterns of PrayerPeter Forster
13
14
Prayer Book and ScriptureChristopher Idle
A warning: I belong to the Prayer Book Society, but I
am not what some call a ‘Prayer Book
Fundamentalist’. Just two hours ago I was leading the
‘worship slot’ in ‘Messy Church’ in my own parish of
Holy Trinity Bromley Common, also next door to
this. Very basic: just prayer, a talk for younger
families, and a song about Esther to the tune of Frère
Jacques, written for the occasion. But we cannot live
on chewing gum alone; it’s good to share this
evening in a proper meal!
At the same time, I wish that more of the people
who speak so highly of Evensong would sometimes
turn up for it; the same goes for the Prayer Book
Communion service. Often that is virtually confined
to 8.00 a.m.; that is how my day started. How hard
it is to be deprived of the opening Collect for Purity,
the comfortable words, the magnificent Prayer of
Consecration, and the Gloria, in their Prayer Book
forms!
And what about Matins? When people ask for my
favourite hymn, I say ‘the Te Deum’: ‘We praise thee, O
God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord . . . ’. If
their eyes glaze over because they don’t know what
I’m talking about, I say, ‘Well, you could put down
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!’
And that wonderful morning Collect, ‘O Lord our
heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who
hast safely brought us to the beginning of this
day . . . ’. Although this is the evening, I have a few
PBS bookmarks featuring this prayer, for any who ask
me afterwards.
But the chief glory of the English Prayer Book (call
it 1662 if you like, but it’s not the date that matters!)
is the pride of place it gives to Holy Scripture in all
its regular services. And also, if you have the
complete book, the Ordination services (for Bishops,
Priests and Deacons), the Accession Service (for the
reigning Sovereign) and the Thirty-Nine Articles of
Religion—strong on the Gospel of the grace of God
and strong on the Holy Bible.
This evening we have sung Psalm 141, a prayer for
sincerity, against compromise with evil and wrong,
and for survival under the inevitable attacks we face.
It’s also a quick health check, since it covers several
bits of our bodies; how do we measure up to the
model given here?
Verse 1, My voice: ‘Lord, I call upon thee . . . consider
my voice when I cry unto thee.’ We have asked the
Lord to open our lips in praise; this is the voice of
urgent prayer from a man (David’s name is attached
to it) under stress. Is anyone under stress? This could
be for you. Sometimes we are lost for words and God
respects and listens to our silence. Of course he
knows our needs. But when we use our voices, in
public or in private, God loves to hear and we reap
the benefit.
V. 2, My hands: ‘Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight
as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be
an evening sacrifice.’ You may find it helpful to raise
your hands, or not; to kneel down, or not. The point
in the Jewish ritual of tabernacle and temple is the
offering of incense as an act of worship. In the Book
of Revelation the bowls of incense are the prayers of
the saints; that is, of all Christian believers. When we
are stressed out and when we are not, in this daily
offering of ourselves to God our hands represent all
we do with them during the day, all offered to the
Lord.
V.3, My mouth: ‘Set a watch, O Lord, before my
mouth.’ My voice in v.1 was towards God; v.3 is
directed towards other people. My mouth needs a
guard to check what comes out; is my speech to my
neighbour consistent with what I say to God?
And now the best bit:
V.4, My heart: ‘O let not my heart be inclined to any
evil thing.’ ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil.’ The Christian faith is a global faith; a
catholic faith in the true sense; a public and social
religion, a caring and loving religion, above all a
heart-religion—‘that Christ may dwell in [our]
hearts by faith’. And we have great hymns like ‘O for
a heart to praise my God’. What says the Book of
Common Prayer?
Before Communion: ‘Almighty God, unto
whom all hearts be open . . . ’.
At the Ten Commandments: ‘Incline our
hearts to keep this law . . . ’. Write all these thy
laws in our hearts’—not just outward observance
but heart-commitment.
Prayers for The Queen: ‘So rule the heart of
thy chosen servant Elizabeth, our Queen . . . ’;
for ‘the hearts of Kings are in thy rule and
governance.’
And for the Church Militant: ‘that with
meek heart and due reverence, [we] may hear,
and receive thy holy Word . . . .’
At Communion: not the truncated words
15
but including ‘and feed on him in thy heart by
faith with thanksgiving’.
And the blessing: ‘The peace of God . . .
keep your hearts and minds . . . ’.
At Evensong we confess our sins ‘with an
humble, lowly, penitent and obedient heart’,
because ‘we have followed too much the
devices and desires of our own hearts . . . ’. And
that supreme prayer, ‘O God, make clean our
hearts within us . . . ’.
All this because in the Prayer Book, as in the Bible,
we discover: firstly, we are more wicked than we ever
realised (let alone admitted); and secondly, we are
more loved than we ever dreamed (let alone
deserved). Thomas Cranmer is not responsible for all
these excerpts, but for everything which this 16th-
century martyr-archbishop is responsible for, most
notably at The Lord’s Supper, thanks be to God!
Showing up on Sunday may not always be easy.
But even at best it’s only a start; God looks on our
hearts, and the Lord Christ cleanses, restores and
renews them.
There is more in the Psalm:
Vv. 5 and 6, My head and then V.9, My eyes; not always
the best-functioning parts of our mortal bodies but,
like Simeon, we can surely say, ‘Mine eyes have seen
thy salvation . . . ’ because salvation is another name
for Jesus.This isn’t a complete check-up; ears, knees
and feet also receive attention from other Scriptures!
But let this evening be not just a 350-year-old book
re-launch, but a response to God who, through all
our different parishes, clergy, choirs, organists and
fellow believers, blesses us so richly and generously
up to this day and, please God, all the days yet
remaining of ‘this transitory life’.
To conclude with another Prayer Book Collect:
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our
supplications and prayers, and dispose the way
of thy servants towards the attainment of
everlasting salvation; that among all the
changes and chances of this mortal life, they
may ever be defended by thy most gracious
and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Extracts from a sermon preached by the Revd Christopher Idle at
Choral Evensong at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Hayes, on
Sunday, 21st October 2012, celebrating the 350th anniversary of
the Book of Common Prayer.
17
Is the increasing disuse of the Prayer of Humble
Access in modern Anglican services of Holy
Communion both a symptom and a cause of
growing arrogance, presumption and
unteachability in local congregations of all
churchmanships? A cause because, if an effective
liturgical antidote to a bloated ego is not applied,
then surely the disuse can fuel the problem?
Frontline clergy inclined to cut the Prayer of
Humble Access may argue that prayerfully
preaching the gospel, not clinging to particular
pieces of liturgy, is what leads to true Christian
humility in God’s Church. That, by God’s grace, is
true—it is the gospel that is the power of God for
the salvation of all who believe. People do not need
to use the particular form of words in the Prayer of
Humble Access in order to be saved. But the great
benefit about liturgy in applying the gospel is that
it allows congregational ownership. There is a live
response by the congregation to the gospel that is
being proclaimed.
Certainly, the proclamation of the gospel in the
Holy Communion liturgy of the Book of Common
Prayer is intentional about instilling gospel-
motivated humility. In an article about Cranmer’s
Prayer of Humble Access in the Church Society’s
theological journal, Churchman, Katie Badie wrote:
‘We are not worthy so much as to gather up
the crumbs under thy Table . . . ’. The source
is clearly the narrative of the Syro-
Phoenician woman. The wording is closer to
Mark’s version (Mark 7:24–30). This text
does not seem to have been employed in a
liturgical context before. The link is the
repetition of ‘thy Table’, which marks a
significant point in the historical context. In
the gospel narrative, this sentence is not
referring to the bread of the Lord’s Supper
but is an image of the priority of the Jews in
salvation history. It is not a question of
worthiness, but of God’s plan. Jesus even
praises the woman for her faith in
perceiving that she can, as a Gentile, like a
dog under the table, ‘eat of the children’s
crumbs’, something that the Prayer suggests
we are not worthy to do. This is, of course,
true—we are not worthy. As often in the
New Testament, this sentence is leading us to
the ‘but’ of the following one: we are
sinners, but God is rich in mercy (e.g. Rom.
3:23, Eph. 2:4).
Of course, a person can go through the
motions of praying the Prayer of Humble Access
without being humbled, but he or she must do so
in defiance of the power of the gospel expressed in
these wonderful words:
We do not presume to come to this thy
Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own
righteousness, but in thy manifold and great
mercies. We are not worthy so much as to
gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But
thou art the same Lord, whose property is
always to have mercy: Grant us therefore,
gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear
Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that
our sinful bodies may be made clean by his
body, and our souls washed through his
most precious blood, and that we may
evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
Julian Mann is Vicar of the Parish Church of the Ascension,
Oughtibridge, in the Diocese of Sheffield. This piece originally
appeared on his blog, ‘Cranmer’s Curate’.
Is less Humble Access leading tomore arrogance?
Julian Mann
18
PBS members will be pleased
that the church composer
Philip Stopford has been voted
by Classic FM listeners into
the 2013 Hall of Fame. Many
of his compositions have been
based on Prayer Book texts.
When announcing the results
of the voting on Good Friday,
Classic FM broadcast his
composition ‘Lully Lulla
Lullay’ from a CD recorded in
Belfast Cathedral where Philip
Stopford was Director of
Music from 2003 to 2010.
A Stopford setting of the
Collect for the Sunday after
Ascension Day, ‘O God the
King of glory, who hast
exalted thine only Son Jesus
Christ with great triumph…’,
was commissioned by PBS
members in Northern Ireland.
The Royal College of
Physicians commissioned
Philip Stopford to write a
setting of the Collect for
St Luke’s Day, ‘Almighty God,
who calledst Luke the
Physician…’. Recent com-
positions include his
unaccompanied four-part
setting of the Evening Canticles for Truro
Cathedral, which also commissioned a setting of
the Collect for The Queen, ‘O God of Time and
Eternity…’, as part of its Jubilee celebrations.
Philip Stopford told the PBS:
I am so pleased that lots of Classic FM
listeners voted for my music. It is vital for
church music that contemporary church
compositions are given their due place in
the whole field of music. I am delighted to
have been asked to set some of these
magnificent Prayer Book texts that are
both a challenge and an inspiration to the
composer. I hope that PBS members will
continue requesting Classic FM to
broadcast these Prayer Book settings.
The Truro Evening Canticles and the Collect
for The Queen are on the latest CD of Stopford
choral music, ‘Do not be afraid’, performed by
Truro Cathedral Choir, directed by Christopher
Gray.
Michael Callender
Composer of BCP Collect settings votedinto Classic FM Hall of Fame
Philip Stopford [right] with the President of the Royal College of Physicians
who commissioned his setting of the Collect of St Luke
19
It is essential to the future of the Society and of the Prayer Book that we increasingly involve clergy,
ordinands and young people in our work. The Annual Conference provides an excellent opportunity
to make connections, but many of those we especially need to attract are deterred by the Conference
fee.
Last year, the Society launched a bursary scheme, funded by the generous donations of our
members, to enable clergy and ordinands (of any age) and anyone under 30 to attend the
Conference at the much reduced cost of £50 for the full Conference fee. In 2012, your kind
contributions enabled six ordinands and active (non-retired) clergy to join us in Lincoln, and we
are hoping to attract at least the same number this year.
If you are booking to attend the Conference yourself, there is an option to add on a donation to the
Conference bursary appeal; otherwise, please use the form below.
The PBS Annual Conference:Bursary appeal
Helping clergy, ordinands and young people to attend theConference
I wish to support the PBS Conference bursaries appeal for clergy, ordinands and young people
Name________________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________Postcode_______________________
Telephone number(s)______________________________________________________ _____
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I enclose a cheque for £___________ made payable to ‘Prayer Book Society’.
Please charge my debit/credit card with the amount of £_________________
(Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/Electron/Solo)
Card No:
Valid from: / Expires end: / CVV:
(Last 3 digits on rear of card)
Cardholder’s signature ___________________________________________
Please send your donation to:
Prayer Book Society, Copyhold Farm, Lady Grove, Goring Heath, Reading RG8 7RT
IMPORTANT: If you prefer not to cut your magazine, please enclose a note with your donation clearly indicating that it is for the Conference Bursaries Appeal.
CorrespondenceDear Sir,
Many members of the Prayer Book Society are
principally concerned with the retention of the
Prayer Book Communion service. But there may be
a substantial minority who regret the near-
disappearance of Choral Morning Prayer from our
parish churches. I have sadly to report the
systematic and ingenious destruction of a fine
Morning Prayer tradition in one of our churches
by a determined and clever incumbent over the ten
or so years of his tenure. Part of his technique was
to make a change every time he had a new curate,
so that the new priest would be unaware of what
had gone before.
It is said that if you drop a frog into hot water,
it will jump out. But if you put the frog into cold
water and gradually warm it up, the frog will stay
in the water until it dies. This was another of the
incumbent’s gambits: the changes were made
gradually over several years so that the
congregation was hardly aware that they were
happening.
At first Choral Morning Prayer was offered
every Sunday at 11.00 a.m., followed by Holy
Communion. I was not at the church at this time,
so am unsure whether the Communion service
was said or sung.
The first change was to move Morning Prayer
to 10.15 a.m., followed by Sung Holy
Communion. People came to the church from
miles around to enjoy the Prayer Book tradition.
Naturally it was harder for them to get there by
10.15 a.m., so the inevitable and intended
consequence was that the Morning Prayer
congregation grew smaller. At times it was barely
more than ten. But the Litany was still sung after
Morning Prayer every Sunday in Lent—the most
beautiful service I have attended in years. Morning
Prayer was even offered on Easter Day, a great
rarity.
A new curate arrived and was told to announce
that the Litany would be SAID after Morning
Prayer in Lent. This lasted for just one Lent.
The incumbent’s next ploy was to hold a
survey about the church’s worship. A survey can
usually be slanted to achieve the result the setter
requires. Unfortunately those who answered didn’t
show great enthusiasm for Choral Morning
Prayer—the change of time had meant that very
few of them could attend it. The result of the
survey was that Morning Prayer was reduced to
one Sunday a month. The Litany in Lent was
dropped altogether—a pointless act of destruction.
If the incumbent manages to stop Choral
Morning Prayer altogether, I shall be unable to
report the fact, as I have left the church. I had been
very happy there and found the worship uniquely
uplifting, but in the face of such determined
opposition to Choral Morning Prayer I had no
alternative.
Simon Gordon-Clark,
London
20
21
Ian Ritchie (Author, Editor),
Carole Ann Butler (Editor), et al. (Editor), Choirbook for The Queen: A Collection of Contemporary Sacred
Music in Celebration of the Diamond Jubilee,
paperback, £40,
40 anthems arranged by contemporary British
composers
To follow the Eton Choirbook with a sequel is an
ambitious project, even from the safe distance of a
quarter of a millennium. These two very well-
presented volumes encompass a surprisingly wide
range of styles and calibres of writing. There are
some previously composed items and commissions,
including works from writers new to the medium of
church choral music. Whilst this yields interesting
and adventurous textures and colours, there are also
some cumbersome moments which a regular choral
writer would probably have handled much more
deftly. With all compilations only time will decide
which items pass into the regular repertoire, whilst
as a tribute to our present Queen this is a delightful
and dignified compilation.
A gem from the first book is Judith Bingham’s
‘Corpus Christi Carol’. A welcome setting of the text,
this ostinato-based piece is fresh and well-structured.
Not exceptionally brave in harmonic terms, it weaves
its own cloth from the threads set out in the first few
bars, so has an organic unity. Volume Two begins
with a spirited and vigorous setting by John McCabe
of William Drummond’s text ‘The Last and Greatest
Herald’. This too has an independent organ part (as
do many of the works) and matches its text well.
English attention to word-painting is evident in
many of the anthems, although this may become
totally obscured where canonical writing, or the
logical working-out of a point, overtakes it. The First
Elizabeth would have frowned! An illustrative setting
of Herbert’s poem ‘Church Music’ by Julian Philips
employs many a standard device with pleasingly
unpredictable twists, and there are substantial pieces
for double-choir in this volume, too. For the
competent choir the collection offers some
worthwhile new repertoire. Viewed from the future,
it will be fascinating to see if this ‘festival’ of choral
music stands as a landmark like its forerunner.
Rosemary Field, Head of Education,
The Royal School of Church Music
John Rogers, The Undelivered Mardle: A Memoir of Belief, Doubt and Delight,
Darton Longman and Todd, London,
hardback, 160 pages, £12.99
Suffolk is noted for its great parish churches—
Blythburgh, Lavenham, Long Melford, Southwold
and so on. But the church at the heart of this book is
not one of them. St Mary Letheringham is the name
of a twelfth-century priory of Augustinian
foundation, a detachment from their abbey at
Ipswich, established to pray and to farm there.
Dissolved at the Reformation and partly demolished,
the priory left behind its nave where parishioners
had worshipped and still do. It is a modest building
and has suffered bouts of abuse and neglect; but the
churchgoing congregation and its 65 parishioners
keep it going. A mardle is a talk of local interest and
gossip; and this mardle was undelivered but
postponed (by a heart attack) and is now published.
Its secondary title accurately adds ‘A Memoir of
Belief, Doubt and Delight’. Its belief finds its words
in the Book of Common Prayer, buttressed by the
English Bible and the treasury of English hymns, so
making it a joy and celebration for members of the
Prayer Book Society. Its belief, though whimsical, is
sincere. Its doubt is in the social economic
development of our time, whether in the structure of
diocesan finance or in the big global economic
collapse worthy of an apocalypse. Tennyson addresses
Virgil across the centuries:
Thou majestic in thy sadness
At the doubtful doom of human kind.
John Thurmer
Book Reviews
Birmingham
It is with deep regret that we have
to record the passing of our
Chairman, Col. Mike World RAMC.
He was a committed Christian and
enthusiastic member of the Prayer
Book Society, someone who always
travelled with a Prayer Book in his
pocket and said the Offices every
day wherever he was in the world.
Mike had twenty-seven years
of distinguished service in the
Royal Army Medical Corps and had
been a full colonel for some eleven
years. He was Defence Professor of
Medicine for eighteen years and
trained two generations of military
doctors. He had a deep respect for
his patients and always included
them in his prayers. He recorded
every case he saw and produced a
book based on this work, together
with many other publications.
He was not only a consultant
renal physician and lecturer in
Birmingham but also served
abroad in successive conflicts. He
was often away on deployments,
latterly at Camp Bastion in
Afghanistan.
Mike World was not only our
Chairman but also undertook,
without complaint, the offices of
Secretary and Treasurer. He
arranged relevant and highly
enjoyable events and outings. We
will miss his efficiency, his
kindness and his good
companionship.
Coventry
At the first event of the year on
16th April, members met to say
Matins at Alveston old church. It is
the chancel left standing when the
church was rebuilt a short distance
away. With its clear glass,
monuments, pre-Norman
tympana and the not very distant
sound of sheep, it was a
characterful venue. The
opportunity to have the real
McCoy with full-length readings
and the psalms appointed for the
day is now a rare one. Afterwards,
as has become a Branch tradition, a
group of members enjoyed a
pleasant lunch at the village inn.
Exeter
The Exeter Branch Chairman, the
Revd Preb. Paul Hancock, was the
Celebrant at Holy Communion at
St Matthias Church, Torquay to
mark the beginning of Lent,
followed by the Litany. Our
grateful thanks go to the Revd
Mark Lord-Lear, Mr Michael
Hackeson (organist) and Mr Ian
Lane who organised the event for
the Branch. Lunch at The Kents was
enjoyed afterwards by members.
Lincoln
On 11th May members gathered in
the erudite atmosphere of the
Wren Library of Lincoln Cathedral.
The meeting, convened by the
Society’s President, Lord Cormack,
was a successful attempt to revive
activities of the Society in the
Diocese of Lincoln. Over twenty
members attended and agreed to
re-form the Diocesan Branch. It
was agreed to organise two events,
one in the autumn and the other
next May at which the officers and
Committee would be elected.
The Revd Canon Andrew Hawes
agreed to be Acting Chairman and
The Hon. Christopher Brightman
Co-ordinating Secretary for this
interim period. The gathering in
the library provided an
opportunity to see the ‘sealed
book’ or first edition of the 1662
Book of Common Prayer that was
delivered to the cathedral on its
authorisation, enabling the
cathedral to restore liturgical
worship after the Commonwealth
Period.
London and Southwark
A book launch when held in a
bookshop can be an uneasy affair.
The author is seated at a table and
signs copies while the queue, if
News from the Branches
23
The President with Lincoln Members in the Wren Library
24
there is one, looks on. The rest of
the shop ignores the table and the
line of people and goes about its
business.
Not so at the Paul Thomas
event at Church House bookshop
in Westminster. We had the shop to
ourselves, and the luxury was
immense: surely one of London’s
best collections of liturgy, theology
and Church matters.
The Revd Paul Thomas’s new
publication, Using the Book of Common
Prayer, is both learned and
humorous, as was the content of
the launch night. We are fortunate
to have him as a member of our
Branch.
Raymond Chapman, another
notable author and London and
Southwark member, stretched our
knowledge of the Prayer Book
rubrics, which was his subject as
speaker at the Annual General
Meeting. The question time, like
the Revd Professor’s speech, was
one of our best, and soared.
Paul Meitner did not stand for
re-election. We lost him to his
extensive work as Trustee to the
whole of the South-East Region.
We thank him for his valuable con-
tribution to the Branch
Committee.
For those who might be
interested, our Twitter character
Prayer Book Man has so far written
to the airwaves of the internet
more than 2,200 tweets. His
writings are followed by people all
over Britain, and as far away as
New Zealand and South America.
We hope to publish a selection of
his tweets (say two or three) in the
Newsletter.
Some of you use a computer
for e-mail, but nevertheless have a
healthy contempt for Twitter. Are
you exalted to hear we might soon
introduce a Branch blog? If we do,
in a further contribution to this
page we’ll explain to those who
don’t know, but care, exactly what
a blog is.
Could you be a Benefactor of the Prayer Book
Society?Benefactors of the Society are members who generously help the
Society financially through a gift of at least £500 a year. As a token of
our appreciation, Benefactors receive a leather-bound copy of the
Book of Common Prayer when they first sign up, plus an annual letter
from our President, Lord Cormack, and an invitation to a reception or
similar event. (The inaugural event for Benefactors was held last year
in the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey.)
Over the past few years, we at the Society have significantly
expanded our activities, especially in relation to our work with clergy,
ordinands and churches. This has left us with an ongoing deficit
between our regular income (when legacies are excluded) and our
regular expenditure, and the Benefactors scheme was introduced last
year to give members an opportunity to help bridge that gap.
We currently have around twenty Benefactors and, while we
realise that the majority of our members will not be in a position to
become Benefactors, we are keen to welcome additions to their
number. Please ask the PBS Office at Copyhold Farm for a copy of the
Benefactors’ application form if you are interested in becoming a
Benefactor.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014Next year, the Society’s Annual Conference will again be returning to
the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, from Friday 19th to
Sunday 21st September 2014. Please make a note in your diary.
The 2014 Conference programme will be available nearer the time.
Norwich
We have enjoyed two events since
our last report. The first was our
annual Cranmer Awards heat, once
again generously organised by our
President, Lord Howard of Rising,
at his delightful little church of
St Lawrence at Castle Rising, near
King’s Lynn. Two readers, Caitlin
Dickens-Watts from St Peter’s
Church, Sheringham and James
Walker from Norwich School,
were chosen to represent our
Branch at the finals in York, where
James Walker was highly
commended. The second event was
a lovely afternoon where we
joined the Round Towers Churches
Society and were guided round
three very different round-towered
churches at SS Peter and Paul,
Wramplingham, All Saints,
Runnall and All Saints, Welborne
near Norwich. There are, in fact,
124 round-towered churches in
Norfolk. We carry on with regular
meetings to keep the Book of
Common Prayer as prominent as
possible in this Diocese.
Oxford
The annual commemoration of the
martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer
took place on Thursday, 21st
March, not only the anniversary
date but also that of the
enthronement of his latest
successor as Primate. The Oxford
event commenced with a service
of Matins in the church of St
Michael at the North Gate in
Oxford by kind permission of the
Rector, the Very Revd Bob Wilkes.
The service was conducted by the
Branch President, the Revd Dr
Roger Beckwith, and the preacher
was the Revd Jason St John Nicolle,
Vicar of the Churn group of
parishes. Lessons were read by
Prudence Dailey, National
Chairman and John Dearing,
Branch Secretary and Secretary to
the Branch Representatives'
25
Oxford Branch Chairman Geoffrey Horne lays a wreath on the Martyrs’ Memorial
PBS members surround the cross in Broad Street, Oxford
where Thomas Cranmer was martyred
26
Council. After the service the
congregation processed to the
Martyrs’ Memorial in St Giles,
pausing at the site of the
martyrdom in Broad Street, where
Dr Beckwith read a short
contemporary account of the
event. At the memorial a wreath
was laid by Branch Chairman
Geoffrey Horne. Twenty members
stayed on to enjoy our traditional
annual luncheon at the Mitre Inn.
Salisbury
Mr Ian Woodhead recently retired
as Chairman of the Salisbury
Branch of the Prayer Book Society
after sixteen years of devoted
service. At the Annual General
Meeting held at Dinton Village
Hall, the Branch President, The
Hon. Diana Makgill CVO,
presented Mr Woodhead with a
cheque from Branch members
and a certificate containing the
names of members who had
contributed to his gift. She also
presented Mrs Ann Woodhead
with a bouquet of flowers and,
amidst prolonged applause,
thanked her on behalf of the
Branch for her unstinting help in
her husband’s work. The new
Chairman, Mr Barrie Waterfall,
said he looked forward to the
work but knew he had a hard act
to follow. Officers and members
of the Committee were appointed,
and the speaker at the meeting
was the Rt Revd Bill Ind, former
Bishop of Truro, who appeared in
the TV series An Island Parish. His
amusing and thought-provoking
talk was entitled ‘The World We
Have Lost’—about the Book of
Common Prayer and Authorised
Version of the Bible as intended to
be spoken. The usual hearty tea
was followed by bell ringing and
Evensong at the parish church
conducted by the Chaplain to the
Branch, Canon Christopher
Brown.
The Hon. Diana Makgill CVO, Salisbury Branch President, presents outgoing
Chairman Ian Woodhead with a certificate in recognition of his service to the
Branch
Welcome to new Trustee Ashley Perraton-Williams!Shortly after his election as a Trustee in September, the Revd Lars Nowen accepted the position of Senior
Chaplain of St Vincent’s, Algarve, Portugal (in the Diocese of Gibraltar and Europe), and therefore
reluctantly stood down from the Board (as it would not have been feasible for him to attend meetings).
We wish Lars and his family well in his new ministry.
Lars is replaced by Ashley Perraton-Williams, who is well-versed in social networking and electronic
communications, and is chairing the Society’s Marketing and Communications Committee.
Originally from Lincolnshire, Ashley is aged 28 and now lives in Greenwich. He and his wife, Clio, are
regular worshippers at St James Garlickhythe in the City of London, where they edit the parish newsletter
and where their baby daughter, Floria, was recently baptised. Ashley is a Freeman of the City of London, a
member of the Society of Young Freemen and a member of the Company of Educators.
Ashley and Clio have a background in classical singing and opera, and Ashley also plays the organ.
Together they also run a very successful pet care company, Ashley Pet Services, in south-east London. Their
business has gone from strength to strength through the use of online marketing and advertising, and
Ashley will bring these skills to bear in developing the communications and marketing of the Prayer Book
Society.
Forthcoming EventsBlackburn
Sunday, 29th September, 6.00 p.m.
We join with St John, Broughton
(immediately north of Preston on
the A6) for a service of Choral
Evensong. (Broughton has the
largest parish church choir in the
Diocese.)
Coventry
Saturday, 11th May, 3.00 p.m.
Choral Evensong, St Peter’s
Hampton Lucy.
- Saturday, 8th June, 2.00 p.m.
‘Quiet Day’ at Honiley.*
- Wednesday, 10th July, 6.30 p.m.
Branch AGM and Supper, Aston
Cantlow.*
- Tuesday, 17th September, 11.00
a.m. Matins at St Margaret’s
Hunningham. Lunch at The Red
Lion, Hunningham.*
- Saturday, 30th November, 3.00
p.m. Advent Service, Guild
Chapel, Stratford-upon-Avon.
For events marked * please contact
the Branch secretary.
Exeter
Saturday, 22nd June, 2.30 p.m.
Branch AGM at The Wickham Hall,
Ashburton Road, Bovey Tracey,
followed by Tea and Evensong. The
speaker will be the Rt Revd James
Mason OBE, who will speak about
the Church in Melanesia and
promoting its life in this country.
Peterborough
Saturday, 21st September, St
Matthew’s Day at Higham Ferrers.
- 11.00 a.m. Sung Matins in
St Mary the Virgin Church,
Higham Ferrers
- 12.30 a.m. (for 1.00 p.m.)
Lunch plus coffee at The Griffin
(booking needed)
- 2.30 p.m. Leisurely guided
walk of historic Higham Ferrers
(booking needed)
- 3.30 p.m. Depart
Thanks are due to the vicar, Canon
Grant Brockhouse, the choir, and
the organist and choirmaster Tony
Edwards. Please bring friends and
relations. The service, lunch and
walk are open to all. Should you
arrive early there are many places
where you can have a cup of
coffee—one of them within 30
yards of the church door. Please
telephone Mary Stewart (01664
474353 or 07989 429276) to
check if there are lunch places
available and to order a booking
form. If you leave a message please
give your name and contact
telephone number. Once your place
and food choice are confirmed
please return the booking form and
a cheque made payable to The
Prayer Book Society to: Mrs Mary
Stewart, 3 Oakham Road,
Whissendine, Rutland LE15 7HA.
St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Friday, 28th June, 2.30 p.m.
Assington Hall Annexe, near
Sudbury CO10 5LQ. Cambridge
historian Dr David Smith will speak
on ‘The Book of Common Prayer
during the English Civil Wars’. Tea.
Evensong at the Church of St
Edmund the King and Martyr at
approximately 4.30 p.m.
Service on Saturday, 7th
September, 3.00 p.m. St Mary’s
Church, Huntingfield, near
Halesworth IP19 0BX.
North Wales
Services at Gwydir Uchaf Chapel
Since 2011, after many decades of
disuse, services using the 1662
Book of Common Prayer have
resumed in this 17th-century
chapel. The services are arranged by
the North Wales Branch of the
Prayer Book Society, and a group of
27
local singers enhances the worship.
The chapel was built in 1763 by
Sir John Wynn of Gwydir as a place
of worship for the family.
The simple exterior belies the
elaborate interior with its unusual
painted ceiling, west end gallery
and carved furnishings. The setting
is splendid, above the Conwy
Valley between Llanrwst and
Betws-y-Coed, surrounded by
woodland. The chapel is now
owned by the Willoughby family
of the Ancaster estate and is
managed by Cadw. Permission to
restore services has graciously
been given by both parties. All are
welcome to join in services on the
following dates: Sung Eucharist,
Sunday, 23rd June 2013, 3.00
p.m.; Sung Matins, Sunday, 29th
September, 3.00 p.m.; Sung
Evensong, Sunday, 15th December,
3.00 p.m., Christmas worship
(further information from Neil
Fairlamb, Rector of Beaumaris and
Secretary of the Prayer Book
Society in North Wales).
28
Forms of words for making a bequest tothe Prayer Book Society in your Will
For a new Will
‘I give [the residue of my estate/the sum of £___] to the Prayer BookSociety (Registered Charity number 1099295) of The Studio,Copyhold Farm, Lady Grove, Goring Heath, Reading RG8 7RTfor its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receiptof the Finance Director or other authorised officer shall be a fulland sufficient discharge to my Executors.’
For a codicil to an existing Will
‘I [full name] of [full address] declare this to be a [first/second] codicilto my Will dated [dd/mm/yyyy]. In addition to any legacies givenin my said Will I give to the Prayer Book Society (RegisteredCharity number 1099295) of The Studio, Copyhold Farm, LadyGrove, Goring Heath, Reading RG8 7RT [the sum of£_________/___% share of my residuary estate] to be used for itsgeneral charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of theFinance Director or other duly authorised officer shall be a fulland sufficient discharge to my Executors. In all other respects Iconfirm my Will and any other codicils to it.’
29
The Society stands for:
Respect for the Monarchy: Duty to our
Sovereign and our Country;
The cause of England and Englishness.
In accordance with our Constitution, the
Objects of the society are:
One
To foster the love of England and to
strengthen England and the commonwealth
by spreading the knowledge of English
history, traditions and ideals.
Two
To keep fresh the memory of those, in all
walks of life, who have served England or
the Commonwealth in the past in order to
inspire leadership in the future.
Three
To combat all activities likely to undermine
the strength of England or the
Commonwealth.
Four
To further English interests everywhere to
ensure that St. George’s Day is properly
celebrated and to provide focal points the
world over where English men and women
may gather together.
Are you proud of your Country and her glorious history?
Then why not become a member of
The Royal Society of St. George. Membership provides an
opportunity to take part in our determination to honour England
and Englishness, and to celebrate our nation and its achievements.
An elected Council governs the Society, and we have over 100
branches worldwide.
Please visit our website for regular updates
www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com
Contact the address below for a brochure
Administration Centre
Enterprise House, 10 Church Hill, Loughton
Essex, IG10 1LA England
Office: 020 3225 5011
Fax: 020 8508 4356
Facebook page – www.facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofStGeorge
Twitter account - @RSStGeorge
Membership Application Form
Name:……………………....................................……………….Email:…………….……………….........
Address:………………………………...................................……………………………….......................
Postcode:………....................…………………………Tel no:…................………………………………..
Where did you hear about the Society:…………………………...................................…………………...
Subscriptions (UK): Full Individual £25.00 p.a. Joint Full £35.00 p.a.
For all other forms of membership and information, please contact our Administration Centre
Membership includes a RSSG Jewel Badge and Journals
The Royal Society of St. GeorgePatron:
Her Majesty the QueenSociety Founded: 1894
THE ENGLISH CLERGY ASSOCIATIONFounded 1938 www.clergyassoc.co.uk
Patron: The Rt. Rev’d & Rt. Hon. the Lord Bishop of LondonPresident: Professor Sir Anthony Milnes Coates, Bt., B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.
Parliamentary Vice-President: The Rt. Hon. The Lord Cormack, F.S.A.
The Association seeks to be a Church ofEngland mutual resource and support forclergy (with Freehold or on CommonTenure) patrons and churchwardensrequiring information or insight.
Donations to the Benefit Fund provideClergy Holidays:
Gifts, Legacies, Church Collections muchappreciated.
Registered Charity No. 258559
Mon. 12th MAY 20142p.m.
The speaker at St Giles-in-the-Fieldswill be Rowan, Lord Williams of
Oystermouth
St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London (St. GilesHigh St. Tottenham Court Road tube)
[email protected] for Membership enquiries.The Old School House, Norton Hawkfield, Bristol BS39 4HB
Our former Archbishop will celebrate Communion (1662) at 12.45pm that day, before a reservablebuffet lunch.
Annual Address usually printed in the Members’ journal Parson & Parish.
Branch Contacts• BATH & WELLS:
Mr Ian Girvan, 59 Kempthorne Lane,
Bath BA2 5DX
Tel: 01225 830663
• BIRMINGHAM:
Mrs Joy Burns, 46 Underwood Road,
Handsworth Wood, Birmingham
B20 1JS
Tel: 0121 686 5565
• BLACKBURN:
Mr Neil Inkley, 6 Knot Lane, Walton-
le-Dale, Preston, Lancashire PR5 4BQ
Tel: 01772 821676
Fax: 01772 259340
• BRADFORD:
Please contact the office, Copyhold
Farm
• BRISTOL:
Membership Secretary: Mrs Joyce
Morris, 29 St John’s Road, Clifton,
Bristol BS8 2HD
• CANTERBURY:
Mr Christopher Cooper, Goose and
Gridiron, 6 Churchyard Passage,
Ashford, Kent TN23 1QL
Tel: 07525 095717
• CARLISLE:
Secretary: Mrs Joy Budden, Arthuret
House, Longtown CA6 5SJ
Tel: 01228 792263
Membership Secretary: Mrs Kate
East, 10 Fernwood Drive, Kendal
LA9 5BU
Tel: 01539 725055
• CHELMSFORD:
Mr David Martin, The Oak House,
Chelmsford Road, Felsted CM6 3EP
Tel: 01371 820591
• CHESTER:
Mr J. Baldwin, Rosalie Farm, Church
Minshull, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5
6EF
Tel: 01270 528487
• CHICHESTER:
Mrs Valerie Dane, 225 Chichester
Road, Bognor Regis PO21 5AQ
Tel: 01243 827330
(Chichester East) The Revd G.
Butterworth, The Vicarage, 51
Saltdean Vale, Saltdean, East Sussex
BN2 8HE
Tel: 01273 302345
• COVENTRY:
Mr Peter Bolton, 19 Kineton Road,
Wellesbourne, Warwickshire CV35
9NE
Tel: 01789 840814
• DERBY:
Please contact the office, Copyhold
Farm
• DURHAM:
Mrs Rosemary Hall, 23 Beatty
Avenue, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2
3QN
Tel: 0191 285 7534
• ELY:
Mr P. K. C. White, The Orchard
House, 12 Thrift’s Walk, Old
Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1NR
Tel: 01223 324176
• EXETER:
Mrs Esme Heath, Brookfield,
Stokenham, Kingsbridge, Devon
TQ7 2SL
Tel: 01548 580615
• GLOUCESTER:
Miss S.M. Emson, 38 Gloucester
Road, Stratton, Cirencester GL7 2JY
Tel: 01285 654591
• GUILDFORD:
Mr John Fox-Reynolds, 3 Orchard
Cottages, Bron-y-de, Churt, Farnham
GU10 2LL
Tel: 01428 605156
• HEREFORD:
Mr Stephen Evans, 14 Raven Lane,
Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1BW
Tel: 01584 873436
Mobile: 07920 200619
• LEICESTER:
Mrs S. Packe-Drury-Lowe, 35 Green
Lane, Seagrave, Loughborough LE12
7LU
Tel: 01509 815262
• LICHFIELD:
Mr D. Doggett, Grassendale, 5 Park
Drive, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11
1BN
Tel: 01691 652902
• LINCOLN:
The Hon. Christopher Brightman,
The Grange, Hall Street, Wellingore
LN5 0HU
Tel: 01522 811432
• LIVERPOOL:
Ms Dianne Rothwell, 7 Gorsey Lane,
Warrington WA1 3PT
Tel: 01925 632974 (eve)
• LONDON & SOUTHWARK:
Mr Ken Ellis, c/o the PBS office,
Copyhold Farm
Tel: 020 7586 6828
• MANCHESTER:
Mr Nicholas Johnson, 552 Liverpool
Street, Salford, Manchester M5 5JX
• NEWCASTLE:
Mrs Rosemary Hall, 23 Beatty
Avenue, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2
3QN
Tel: 0191 285 7534
• NORWICH:
Mrs A. Wilson, The Old Rectory,
Burston Road, Dickleburgh, Diss,
Norfolk IP21 4NN
Tel: 01379 740561
• OXFORD:
Mr J. B. Dearing, 27 Sherman Road,
Reading, Berkshire RG1 2PJ
Tel: 0118 958 0377
• PETERBOROUGH:
Mrs M. Stewart, The Sycamores, 3
Oakham Road, Whissendine, Rutland
LE15 7HA
Tel: 01664 474353
• PORTSMOUTH: Please see
Winchester & Portsmouth
• RIPON & LEEDS:
Mr J. R. Wimpress, Bishopton Grove
House, Bishopton, Ripon HG4 2QL
Tel: 01765 600888
• ROCHESTER:
Mr G. Comer, 102 Marlborough
Crescent, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2HR
Tel: 01732 461462
• ST ALBANS:
Mrs J.M. Paddick (Treasurer)
82 Barton Way, Croxley Green,
St Albans WD3 3QA
Tel: 01923 442734
• ST EDMUNDSBURY & IPSWICH:
Mr Anthony C. Desch, South End
House, 2 Sicklesmere Road, Bury St
Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2BW
Tel: 01284 755355
• SALISBURY:
Mrs Lucy Pearson, 10 Briar Close,
Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4SS
Tel: 01747 825392
• SHEFFIELD:
Miss Rosemary Littlewood, Railway
House, Hazlehead, Sheffield S36 4HJ
Tel: 01226 764092
• SODOR & MAN:
Mrs Clare Faulds, The Lynague,
German, Isle of Man IM5 2AQ
Tel: 01624 842045
• SOUTHWARK:
Please see London & Southwark
• SOUTHWELL & NOTTINGHAM:
Mr A.F. Sunman, 1 Lunn Lane, South
Collingham, Newark NG23 7LP
Tel: 01636 893975
• TRURO:
Mr J. St Brioc Hooper, 1 Tregarne
Terrace, St Austell PL25 4BE
Tel: 01726 76382
• WAKEFIELD:
The Revd Philip Reynolds, St Aidan’s
Vicarage, Radcliffe Street,
Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield HD8
9AF
Tel: 01484 863232
• WINCHESTER & PORTSMOUTH:
Mrs Nikki Sales, 19 Heath Road
South, Locks Heath, Southampton
SO31 6SJ
Tel: 01489 570899
• WORCESTER:
Mr John Comins, The Old Rectory,
Birlingham, Nr Pershore WR10 3AB
Tel: 01386 750292
• YORK:
Mr R. A. Harding, 5 Lime Avenue,
Stockton Lane, York YO31 1BT
Tel: 01904 423347
• NORTH WALES:
The Revd Neil Fairlamb, 5 Tros-yr-
afon, Beaumaris, Anglesey LL58 8BN
Tel: 01248 811402
• SOUTH WALES:
Dr J. H. E. Baker, 56 Bridge Street,
Llandaff CF5 2YN
Tel: 0292 057 8091
• CHANNEL ISLANDS: Please see
Winchester & Portsmouth
• OVERSEAS MEMBERS:
Mrs Sally Tipping, Woodland Cross
Cottage, Woodland Head, Yeoford,
Crediton, Devon EX17 5HE
AFFILIATED BRANCHES
• IRELAND: Please contact the office,
Copyhold Farm
• SOUTH AFRICA: Please contact the
office, Copyhold Farm
SISTER SOCIETIES
• AUSTRALIA:
Miss Margaret Steel, 9/63 O'Sullivan
Road, Rose Bay, NSW 2029
Mr F. Ford, PO Box 2, Heidelberg,
Victoria, 3084, Australia
Mrs Joan Blanchard, 96 Devereux
Road, Beaumont, South Australia,
5066, Australia
• CANADA:
The Prayer Book Society of Canada,
P.O. Box 38060, 1430 Prince of
Wales Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C
3Y7, Canada
• SCOTLAND:
Mr J. C. Lord, 11 Melrose Gardens,
Glasgow G20 6RB
Tel: 0141 946 5045
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
The Prayer Book Society, P.O. Box
35220, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
19128, USA
30
