The Very Pure Word of God: The Book of Common Prayer as a Model of Biblical Liturgy

The recent celebration of the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer has helped to stimulate a renewed interest in its teaching and fundamental contribution to Anglican identity. Archbishop Cranmer and others involved in the English Reformation knew well that the content and shape of the services set out in the Prayer Book were vital ways of teaching congregations biblical truth and the principles of the Christian gospel. Thus the aim of this series of booklets which focus on the Formularies of the Church of England and the elements of the different services within the Prayer Book is to highlight what those services teach about the Christian faith and to demonstrate how they are also designed to shape the practice of that faith. As well as providing an account of the origins of the Prayer Book services, these booklets are designed to offer practical guidance on how such services may be used in Christian ministry nowadays. In this overview of the Book of Common Prayer, Peter Adam brings us back again and again to its emphasis on the 'very pure word of God', setting the gold standard and hallmark of all our liturgy. Peter Adam served as Vicar of St Jude's Carlton, and as Principal of Ridley College in Melbourne Australia. He is currently Vicar Emeritus of St Jude's, and Canon of St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne.

Peter Adam is vicar emeritus at St. Jude's Carlton, formerly principal of Ridley College Melbourne, and vicar of St. Jude's. His publications include Speaking God's Words: A Practical Theology of Preaching, Hearing God's Words: Exploring Biblical Spirituality, Written for Us: Receiving God's Words in the Bible, The Message of Malachi, The Majestic Son: The Letter to the Hebrews, Walking in God's Words: Ezra and Nehemiah and For such a time as this: Esther. He speaks at training conferences for preachers. Peter Adam was a founding member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition Australia. You can find him at www.peteradam.org.

GERALD BRAY is director of research for the Latimer Trust and research professor at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He teaches in the areas of church history and historical theology. He is also the author of numerous books, including 'God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology' and 'A Companion to the Book of Common Prayer' (James Clarke and Co). He was librarian of Tyndale House, Cambridge, when he was ordained in the Church of England and served in the parish of St Cedd, Canning Town (Diocese of Chelmsford). He also taught ecclesiastical history and doctrine at Oak Hill Theological College in London. Bray's book, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, was one of Christianity Today's books of the year in 1997.