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Book of Common Prayer
“The Book of Common Prayer is the Bible arranged for worship. The 2019 edition takes what was good from the modern liturgical renewal movement and also recovers what had been lost from the tradition.”
~ Archbishop Robert Duncan, Liturgy Task Force Chair
~ Archbishop Robert Duncan, Liturgy Task Force Chair
812 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 8, 2025
I find it difficult to review this book because it has become one of the most important works I've ever read, prayed, and worshipped through. Praying the daily office is deeply formative, influential on my thinking/imagination, and sets rhythms of worship for growth in Jesus Christ.
October 19, 2019
It had to happen sooner or later. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has been playing around with an updated version of the Book of Common Prayer for years (I have some of those trial runs in my library). Finally, they have landed on an 812 page standardized volume, the "Book of Common Prayer (2019)". I actually picked up the deluxe edition, which is an imitation leather binding, but all the inner details are the same. I will say, after using it for a month, I'm pleased (overall) with what I have found. The way it is printed makes it easy on the eyes, and many of the details between its covers are quite satisfying. If you're looking for a way to shape and form your daily devotions and prayers (morning, midday, evening, and night time) this volume is very useful.
The internal matter of this Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is too big to dissect in depth and detail. I will simply hit things I, as a non-Anglican-pesky-Presbyterian have noticed. All of the hours of prayer are nicely set up and robust. There is even a miniature rendition of Morning Prayer (MP), Midday, Evening Prayer (EP), and Compline for family worship. There are a few extra petitions that follow, and then a whole basket full toward the end. There is also a section of extra Canticles close by that appear to follow the translations of the 1979 BCP. There are two formats for the Eucharist ("Anglican Standard Text," and the "Renewed Ancient Text"). Additionally, the New Coverdale Psalter sits in the middle of the volume, and the "Documentary Foundation" which houses all of the doctrinal statements, declarations and the preface for the 1549 BCP. The book includes all the other items important to Anglicans, from pastoral offices, to ordination liturgies, etc.
Since it has more than I have time to comment on, I will point out just a few items that pique my interest. First, all or most of the Canticles do appear to have come straight from the 1979 BCP. That's fine, in and of itself, and I have no problem with that. It does mean that they don't always sound exactly like the Biblical texts themselves. For example, the newer BCPs' version of Revelation 15.3-4 always sounds tamer to me than what you read in that passage. Also,because the BCP (2019) takes these Canticles from the 1979-BCP, when you come to the presentation of Isaiah 12, both BCPs leave out Isaiah 12.1, which I have always found hugely disappointing. Isaiah 12.1 reminds us what we deserve and why God's salvation should make you shout and give thanks; "You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me."" You sing/chant/recite that, then you're primed to praise God with the remainder of Isaiah 12!
Second, I noticed in both the "Anglican Standard Text" and the "Renewed Ancient Text" for communion, that the door is open for those with more Anglo-Catholic affections. The liturgical technicians could tease this out better and further, but an easy way for me to see it is in what happens after the bread is "fractured" or broken. The celebrant is allowed two options in the words, drawing from 1 Corinthians 5.7c; either "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" or "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us". The "has been" follows more the Scriptural emphasis of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice that benefits us in the present (in 1 Corinthians 5.7c, ἐτύθη is aorist passive, rather than a present active. "Has been" fits better). The "is" keeps the door open for the more Catholic Eucharistic direction of Christ's sacrifice somehow breaking in at the present moment. I recognize that the KJV uses "is" and the case can be made that it is a biblical statement.
Further, the Collects for the day are the standard ones. But I noticed in the "Ordinary Time" after Trinity Sunday, they don't necessarily follow the order of either the 1928 BCP or the 1979 BCP. Not a big deal, I'm sure; I simply thought it was worth noting.
Next, in MP, there is the general confession of sin. It is the standard one included from the 16th Century. The 1979 BCP took out the short line "and there is no health in us." The 2019 BCP restored it, and amended it, and I love the amendment, "and apart from your grace, there is no health in us." That amendment is also an allowable addition to the Eucharistic "Prayer of Humble Access" bringing it to say, "Apart from your grace we are not worthy etc." This makes my teeny Reformation-heart sing happy songs!
Lastly, the Psalter is a modernized version of Coverdale's Psalter. If you plop open a 1928 BCP to the Psalter and set it side-by-side with the 2019 version, you will see how they fit. And I'm delighted to note that the gender-specific language, softened or downright changed in the 1979 BCP, has been restored, especially in the places where a particular Psalm is looking forward to the Messiah. This New Coverdale Psalter, because of the modernizing, may not be as poetic as the original, but it is quite usable and and a loyal offspring of its sire.
The "Book of Common Prayer (2019)" is a worthwhile addition to my devotional library. I have been using it for the past month, and will continue to do so for some time to come. I think that Protestants of all flavors and family-groups would find this volume valuable and helpful in their own times of prayer. I especially would encourage pastors to snatch up a copy and thoughtfully use it as they can. I highly recommend this "Book of Common Prayer (2019)".
The internal matter of this Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is too big to dissect in depth and detail. I will simply hit things I, as a non-Anglican-pesky-Presbyterian have noticed. All of the hours of prayer are nicely set up and robust. There is even a miniature rendition of Morning Prayer (MP), Midday, Evening Prayer (EP), and Compline for family worship. There are a few extra petitions that follow, and then a whole basket full toward the end. There is also a section of extra Canticles close by that appear to follow the translations of the 1979 BCP. There are two formats for the Eucharist ("Anglican Standard Text," and the "Renewed Ancient Text"). Additionally, the New Coverdale Psalter sits in the middle of the volume, and the "Documentary Foundation" which houses all of the doctrinal statements, declarations and the preface for the 1549 BCP. The book includes all the other items important to Anglicans, from pastoral offices, to ordination liturgies, etc.
Since it has more than I have time to comment on, I will point out just a few items that pique my interest. First, all or most of the Canticles do appear to have come straight from the 1979 BCP. That's fine, in and of itself, and I have no problem with that. It does mean that they don't always sound exactly like the Biblical texts themselves. For example, the newer BCPs' version of Revelation 15.3-4 always sounds tamer to me than what you read in that passage. Also,because the BCP (2019) takes these Canticles from the 1979-BCP, when you come to the presentation of Isaiah 12, both BCPs leave out Isaiah 12.1, which I have always found hugely disappointing. Isaiah 12.1 reminds us what we deserve and why God's salvation should make you shout and give thanks; "You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me."" You sing/chant/recite that, then you're primed to praise God with the remainder of Isaiah 12!
Second, I noticed in both the "Anglican Standard Text" and the "Renewed Ancient Text" for communion, that the door is open for those with more Anglo-Catholic affections. The liturgical technicians could tease this out better and further, but an easy way for me to see it is in what happens after the bread is "fractured" or broken. The celebrant is allowed two options in the words, drawing from 1 Corinthians 5.7c; either "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" or "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us". The "has been" follows more the Scriptural emphasis of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice that benefits us in the present (in 1 Corinthians 5.7c, ἐτύθη is aorist passive, rather than a present active. "Has been" fits better). The "is" keeps the door open for the more Catholic Eucharistic direction of Christ's sacrifice somehow breaking in at the present moment. I recognize that the KJV uses "is" and the case can be made that it is a biblical statement.
Further, the Collects for the day are the standard ones. But I noticed in the "Ordinary Time" after Trinity Sunday, they don't necessarily follow the order of either the 1928 BCP or the 1979 BCP. Not a big deal, I'm sure; I simply thought it was worth noting.
Next, in MP, there is the general confession of sin. It is the standard one included from the 16th Century. The 1979 BCP took out the short line "and there is no health in us." The 2019 BCP restored it, and amended it, and I love the amendment, "and apart from your grace, there is no health in us." That amendment is also an allowable addition to the Eucharistic "Prayer of Humble Access" bringing it to say, "Apart from your grace we are not worthy etc." This makes my teeny Reformation-heart sing happy songs!
Lastly, the Psalter is a modernized version of Coverdale's Psalter. If you plop open a 1928 BCP to the Psalter and set it side-by-side with the 2019 version, you will see how they fit. And I'm delighted to note that the gender-specific language, softened or downright changed in the 1979 BCP, has been restored, especially in the places where a particular Psalm is looking forward to the Messiah. This New Coverdale Psalter, because of the modernizing, may not be as poetic as the original, but it is quite usable and and a loyal offspring of its sire.
The "Book of Common Prayer (2019)" is a worthwhile addition to my devotional library. I have been using it for the past month, and will continue to do so for some time to come. I think that Protestants of all flavors and family-groups would find this volume valuable and helpful in their own times of prayer. I especially would encourage pastors to snatch up a copy and thoughtfully use it as they can. I highly recommend this "Book of Common Prayer (2019)".
April 8, 2025
I suppose few people sit down to read this straight through since it isn't really that kind of book. However, since I took a class on the Book of Common Prayer that is what I did. On the whole, I am very fond of the historical consistencies and the modern updates made to the book. I wish it were available with a translation other than the ESV, but it is what it is. That said, little things drive me crazy like the overuse of capitalization. There are times where words first person personal pronouns referring to God are capitalized even when quoting scripture wherein the translators have not taken such liberty. Aside from being poor English, it is presumably a copyright violation since they are using someone else's text.
I have my nits to pick and far fewer with this edition than the 1979 or 1928 edition. The good outweighs the bad by quite a bit.
P.S. I'm a big fan of the new coverdale psalter, it is a return to the 30-day Cranmerian psalter. I only wish it were sold in other translations as well.
I have my nits to pick and far fewer with this edition than the 1979 or 1928 edition. The good outweighs the bad by quite a bit.
P.S. I'm a big fan of the new coverdale psalter, it is a return to the 30-day Cranmerian psalter. I only wish it were sold in other translations as well.
February 20, 2022
I've been utilizing the 2019 edition of the BCP for several months now both in my prayer time, and in my preparation for worship gatherings, weddings, and funerals. I've benefited from spending time in a historic liturgy, and I've gained a deeper appreciation for my Anglican friends. I'll continue to use the Book of Common Prayer in many ways for years to come I presume.
December 27, 2019
Better Every Time
August 3, 2025
My introduction to prayerbook Anglicanism was with the official prayerbook of the CofE (1662 with revised lectionary) published by Cambridge. I will be completely honest with you, it was a turn off to a young Presbyterian. Now that I am Anglican and a member of the ACNA, I have a deep appreciation of the OG prayerbook of our faith. But what about this one?
I am most familiar with the 1979 prayerbook. That was the book that my parish used when I joined. So that is where I am the most comfortable. So when I looked into the 2019 BCP I noticed immediate similarities. 2 rites for the Holy Eucharist, the addition of the Noonday and Compline prayer services, and the canticles were the same. But I noticed, also, some very strong differences. The traditional Anglican liturgy was restored in Rite I and the 10 commandments were restored to Rite II. Some Anglicans reserve this for Lent alone, but some don’t. I also enjoyed the modern language throughout, I found the 1662 difficult to read because of the high Elizabethan English.
High points were the simplified Daily Office lectionary based on the Gregorian calendar. Makes it easy to find your day without memorizing the proper of seasons. I loved the New Coverdale Psalter and its poetic style. That is something that the 1979 lacked. I also enjoyed the accessibility of the 2019. It was easy to navigate and not as cluttered.
Overall, if you want an easy prayerbook to start with, this is your book. I can’t recommend it any more than I do now.
I am most familiar with the 1979 prayerbook. That was the book that my parish used when I joined. So that is where I am the most comfortable. So when I looked into the 2019 BCP I noticed immediate similarities. 2 rites for the Holy Eucharist, the addition of the Noonday and Compline prayer services, and the canticles were the same. But I noticed, also, some very strong differences. The traditional Anglican liturgy was restored in Rite I and the 10 commandments were restored to Rite II. Some Anglicans reserve this for Lent alone, but some don’t. I also enjoyed the modern language throughout, I found the 1662 difficult to read because of the high Elizabethan English.
High points were the simplified Daily Office lectionary based on the Gregorian calendar. Makes it easy to find your day without memorizing the proper of seasons. I loved the New Coverdale Psalter and its poetic style. That is something that the 1979 lacked. I also enjoyed the accessibility of the 2019. It was easy to navigate and not as cluttered.
Overall, if you want an easy prayerbook to start with, this is your book. I can’t recommend it any more than I do now.
July 21, 2025
“The Book of Common Prayer is the Bible arranged for worship.”
–J.I. Packer
“The Book of Common Prayer marries the two means of grace meant for daily use: the Word and prayer.”
–Nick Anctil
“I think for me, what keeps me a traditional Anglican is two things. First, I think the actual issues the Reformers were absolutely right on. And then the second thing is, the Book of Common Prayer is a remarkable document. It's a remarkable tool. There's nothing like it to my knowledge in the East or in Rome. And of course one might say, 'well the Anglican Ordinariate,' well yeah but they had that by adapting the Book of Common Prayer. Both of those communities have stolen the riches of the Book of Common Prayer.
The reason we put so much emphasis on the prayer book is because, as Anglicans, we truly believe that the law of prayer is the law of belief. Lex orandi, lex credendi. And that the deepest way you're formed as a Christian, is not in the first place through doctrinal sort of debate or through disputation or things like that. It's in the first place through prayer. And because Anglicanism teaches you a way to pray that's conducive to virtue, that I think is really significant in showing it as a vital option for reformed catholicity. It's a place where you can be both doctrinally reformed catholic, and also formed in your loves according to the right principles of reformed catholicity through a habit of prayer.”
–Sean Luke (Anglican Aesthetics)
–J.I. Packer
“The Book of Common Prayer marries the two means of grace meant for daily use: the Word and prayer.”
–Nick Anctil
“I think for me, what keeps me a traditional Anglican is two things. First, I think the actual issues the Reformers were absolutely right on. And then the second thing is, the Book of Common Prayer is a remarkable document. It's a remarkable tool. There's nothing like it to my knowledge in the East or in Rome. And of course one might say, 'well the Anglican Ordinariate,' well yeah but they had that by adapting the Book of Common Prayer. Both of those communities have stolen the riches of the Book of Common Prayer.
The reason we put so much emphasis on the prayer book is because, as Anglicans, we truly believe that the law of prayer is the law of belief. Lex orandi, lex credendi. And that the deepest way you're formed as a Christian, is not in the first place through doctrinal sort of debate or through disputation or things like that. It's in the first place through prayer. And because Anglicanism teaches you a way to pray that's conducive to virtue, that I think is really significant in showing it as a vital option for reformed catholicity. It's a place where you can be both doctrinally reformed catholic, and also formed in your loves according to the right principles of reformed catholicity through a habit of prayer.”
–Sean Luke (Anglican Aesthetics)
May 28, 2025
Engaging in the daily office, meditating upon the Scriptures, and joining in the prayers of those who have gone before us into the glory of our Lord has bestowed upon me a profound sense of peace—one that I have not experienced in quite some time. Words fall short in conveying the depth of joy, spiritual formation, and contemplative richness this volume has offered. I anticipate drawing from its wellspring of devotion for many years to come, Lord willing.
December 30, 2024
Love the liturgy of the daily offices and collects in this book. The church calendar is also extremely beneficial. The thoughtfulness behind preparation of services and how priests in the ACNA use this book during Lord’s Day worship, but not what I’ll be subscribing too :)
Still will joyfully use the daily offices though to aid my communion with the Lord!
Still will joyfully use the daily offices though to aid my communion with the Lord!
July 8, 2023
I absolutely adore this book have been reading a copy online. It's been so hard to find a physical copy of this book
March 15, 2025
My original edition is barely held together by packing tape. This is my car-and-church BCP. Gets lots of use. Binding isn't the highest quality.
Hard to review a prayer book. It's full of scripture - all arranged for worship. It's powerful. It's practical.
The daily office lectionary is arranged around the Gregorian calendar rather than the Ecclesial calendar. Some of the collects and propers are difficult to locate for a lay beginner. Lots of options to add/subtract in certain services, this tends to cause more confusion for someone who is new. Wish it only had one Holy Communion service so we, as a denomination, could truly pray in common (like the title suggests).
Overall, I'm immensely grateful for the committee who assembled this resource. It has been a blessing in my life and ministry.
Hard to review a prayer book. It's full of scripture - all arranged for worship. It's powerful. It's practical.
The daily office lectionary is arranged around the Gregorian calendar rather than the Ecclesial calendar. Some of the collects and propers are difficult to locate for a lay beginner. Lots of options to add/subtract in certain services, this tends to cause more confusion for someone who is new. Wish it only had one Holy Communion service so we, as a denomination, could truly pray in common (like the title suggests).
Overall, I'm immensely grateful for the committee who assembled this resource. It has been a blessing in my life and ministry.
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August 8, 20242019. Read up to the Psalter.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews