6. Modernity and the Book of Common Prayer

‘Modernity and the Book of Common Prayer’ describes the revisions and changes to the Book of Common Prayer from the 17th century onwards. It outlines the plans to revise the book by the General Synod of the Church of England, a process that began in 1964 resulting in the 1980 Alternative Service Book. The biggest change came with the publication of Common Worship in 2000, which replaced the Book of Common Prayer outright. It abolished uniformity, providing alternative prayers for different services and encouraging experimentation and improvisation. The Book of Common Prayer always operated as an instrument of monolithic social order. This alone made it difficult for it to survive into the 21st century.