The Book of Common Prayer – 1552

THE PREFACE

THERE was never anye thynge by the wytte of man so wel devised, or so sure
established, whiche (in continuance of tyme) hath not been corrupted: as (emong other
thynges) it may playnlye appeare by the common prayers in the Churche commonlye
called divine servyce: the firste originall and grounde whereof yf a manne woulde
searche out by auncient fathers, he shall fynde that the same was not ordayned but of a
good purpose, and for a great advancemente of godlynesse. For they so ordered the
matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) shoulde be readde over
once in the yeare entendynge thereby, that the clergie and speciallye suche as were
ministers of the congregacion, should (by often readynge and meditacion of Godde's
woorde) be stirred up to godlynesse themselves, and be more able also to exhorte other
by whole some doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the trueth. And
further, that the people (by dayly hearynge of holye scripture read in the Churche)
should continuallye profyte more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more
in flamed with the love of hys true religion. But these manye yeres passed, this godly
and decent order of the auncient fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by
plantinge in uncertayn Stories, Legendes, Respondes, Verses, vayne repeticions,
Commemoracions, and Sinodalles, that commonlye when anye boke of the Bible was
begonne, before three or foure Chapters were read out, al the rest were unread. And in
thys sorte the boke of Esay [Isaiah] was begonne in Advent, and the boke of Genesis in
Septuagesima: but they were onely begonne, and never read through. After a lyke sorte
were other bokes of holy scripture used. And moreover, where as Sainct Paule woulde
have such language spoken to the people in the Churche, as thei might understande, and
have profite by hearing the same; the service in this Churche of Englande (these manye
yeres) hath been read in Latyn to the people, whiche they understode not: so that they
have heard with their eares onely; and their heartes, spirite, and mynde, have not been
edified thereby. And furthermore, notwithstandynge that the auncient fathers have
divided the Psalmes into seven porcions, whereof everye one was called a Nocturne;
nowe of late tyme, a fewe of them have been dayly sayd (and ofte repeated) and the rest
utterlye omitted. Moreover, the numbre and hardnesse of the rules, called the Pie, and
the manyfolde chaungynges of the servyce, was the cause, that to tourne the boke onely
was so harde and intricate a matter, that manye tymes there was more busynesse to
fynde out what shoulde be read, then to reade it when it was founde out.
    These inconveniences therefore consydered, here is set furthe suche an order,
whereby the same shalbe redressed. And for a redynesse in thys matter, here is drawen
out a kalendar for that purpose, whiche is playne and easye to be understanden: wherin
(so muche as may be) the readynge of holye scriptures is so set furthe, that all thynges
shalbe doen in order, without breakynge one pyece thereof from another. For thys cause
be cut of Anthemes, Respondes, Invitatories, and suche lyke thynges, as dyd breake the
continuall course of the readynge of the scripture. Yet because there is no remedye, but
that of necessitie there must be some rules, therefore certayn rules are here sette furth,
whiche as they be fewe in numbre, so they be playn and easie to be understanden. So
that here you have an order for prayer (as touchynge the readynge of holye scripture)
muche agreable to the mynde and purpose of thold fathers, and a great deale more
profitable and commodious, then that which of late was used. It is more profitable,
because here are lefte out manye thynges, where of some be untrue, some uncertayn,
some vayne and supersticious, and is ordeined nothynge to be read, but the very pure
worde of God, the holye scriptures, or that which is evidentlye grounded upon the same,
and that in such a language and order, as is most easy and playne for the
understandynge bothe of the readers and hearers. It is also more commodious, bothe for
the shortness thereof, and for the playnnesse of the order, and for that the rules be fewe
and easye. Furthermore, by thys order, the curates shall nede none other bokes for their
publyke service, but thys boke, and the Bible: By the meanse whereof, the people shall
not be at so greate charge for bokes, as in tyme paste they have been.
    And where heretofore there hath been greate diversitie in sayeng and syngyng in
Churches within this realme, some folowynge Salisbury use, some of Herford use, some
the use of Bangor, some of Yorke, and some of Lincolne. Nowe from hence furthe, all
the whole realme shall have but one use. And yf any woulde judge thys way more
painfull, because that all thynges muste be read upon the booke where as before by the
reason of so often repeticion, they could saye many thynges by heart; yf those men wyl
weygh their laboure, with the profyte and knowledge, which dayly they shal obtayne by
readyng upon the boke, they wyl not refuse the payne, in consideracion of the great
profite that shal ensue therof.
    And for asmuche as nothynge can almoste be so playnly set furthe, but doubtes may
ryse in the use and practisynge of the same: To appease all suche diversitie (yf any
aryse), and for the resolucion of all doubtes concemynge the maner howe to understande
doe and execute the thynges conteyned in this boke: the partes that so doubt, or diversly
take any thyng, shall alway resorte to the Byshoppe of the Diocesse, who by hys
discrecion shall take order for the quietynge and appeasyng of the same: so that the
same order be not contrarye to anye thynge conteyned in thys boke. And yf the
Byshoppe of the Diocesse be in anye doubte, then maye he sende for the resolution
thereof unto the Archebyshoppe.
    Though it be appoynted in the afore wrytten Preface, that all thynges shalbe read and
songe in the Churche in the Englyshe tongue, to the ende that the congregacion maye be
thereby edified: yet it is not ment, but when menne say Mornyng and Evenynge prayer
privatly, they may saie the same in anye language that they themselves do understande.
    And all Priestes and Deacons shalbe bounde to say dayly the Mornynge and Evenyng
prayer, either privatly or openly, excepte they be letted by preaching, studeing of
divinityie, or by some other urgent cause.
    And the Curate that ministreth in every Parish Churche or Chapell, beyng at home,
and not beyng otherwise reasonably letted [prevented], shall say the same in the Parishe
Churche or Chapell where he ministreth, and shall tolle a belle thereto, a convenient
tyme before he begyn, that suche as be disposed maye come to heare Goddes worde,
and to praie with hym.