1662 Book of Common Prayer

Rating:
Summary: Misrepresentation
Review: I am of mixed opinion about the "1662 Book of Common Prayer". My chief complaints and comments are:

a. The slipcase incarcerating the book that arrived on my doorstep was of plain brown cardboard, NOT the attractive-looking case shown on the Amazon website.
b. It took me 10 minutes to pry the book loose from this slipcase and after opening and reading the book, it will no longer go back into the case. A nice feature, that.
c. For some inexplicable reason, I expected an exact replica or reprint of the "1662 Book of Common Prayer". Silly me. While an attractive volume arrived, it was NOT what I expected.
d. The frontispiece states, "This edition includes the various amendments to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer..." and then lists them from 1964, 1965, and 1968....which in itself is odd since the tables for calculating the dates for Easter start at 1983. Furthermore, there are references on some pages to King Charles I, and then suddenly, on a subsequent page, to Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
e. I was expecting, from the advertisement, a faithful copy of the "1662 Book of Common Prayer". It is in my mind, a misrepresentation.
f. As a result, for any given text in this volume, one can't be sure which period in history the words actually originate. If you are a scholar of the period, forget this edition, because this book isn't sure what it is trying to be.
g. The paper has a questionable look and feel, suggesting it may not age well. On the other hand, it is attractively bound in burgundy leather and the text is "large" as advertised.

Don't misunderstand me. The Word of God is always a joy to read...no matter the format. It's just that the format of this particular book is not being honestly advertised.


Rating:
Summary: What Did Those Reformers Think?
Review: If our reviewer from North Carolina thinks the Protestant Reformers would have been happy with the English "mass" of Henry VIII, he (or she) has no understanding of history. However, it certainly is true that the work is a beautiful example of the English language of that period, a valuable tool for scholars, and a delightful thing for both scholars and laymen, even today. -----Joe from Ohio

Rating:
Summary: beautiful!
Review: The Book of Common prayer was rated by Christianity today magazine as one of the 10 best devotion books of all time (along with such works as "the imitation of Christ" by Thomas a'Kempis). This Book is a useful devotion book, and it is so much more: it is a milestone of the history in the English language and culture. It is also the liturgy of one of the oldest Protestant bodies on earth, with roots that go back to the earliest churches. The first time I used this book devotionally, I read Psalm 18 from the psalter, and it was almost overwhelming; a little more ornate than the KJV, it was without a doubt the most beautiful English I had ever read, and certainly the most beautiful translation of scripture. It is full of 'archaic' language, but if you are comfortable with or interested in such language, you will find this book a verbal masterpiece! (my copy is the smaller pocket-size edition). I highly recommend it to anyone who delights in fine language. If you don't like the old language, I recommend the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

Rating:
Summary: A Neat Piece of History
Review: The Church of England's first duty as an established church was to create a prayer book. Separating from the Roman Catholic church meant Mass and other services in English, not Latin. This created the need for a book from which educated people could follow the order of Mass. Be edict of Queen Elizabeth, a guidebook to Mass and the Administration of the Sacraments according to the church of England was created. This was the product of that edict. The Elizabethan language is absolutely beautiful. Imagine a living piece of testament to the protestant reformation right there beside you. A great guide for daily prayer or a unique addition to any church service. I loved it, and the large print was especially easy to read!