Celebrating the Book of Common Prayer

Celebrating 350 years of the Book of Common Prayer

On Sunday 28th October, all services at St James' Church will be using the services from the 'Book of Common Prayer', more commonly known as 'the Prayer Book'. 

For over 300 years the 1662 Prayer Book formed the basis for most services in the Church of England. In its day, it was a unifying force in a nation and church struggling to emerge from the political and religious turmoil of the previous 100 years.

It also had a profound effect in standardising written English of the time. Generations of churchgoers would have been familiar with the forms of Matins, Evensong and Holy Communion, which remained the same in form, if not in actual use, up to the 1960's, when contemporary forms and language started to be introduced.

Whilst for the majority of folk the language and style of the Prayer Book services speak of another age, for some they have a special resonance. If  for you the latter is true or if you wish to sample the language and musical settings of sung psalms, responses and canticles, all our services on Sunday are for you.

Come and join us for this special occasion:

• 8.15 am Holy Communion (said)


• 11.00 am Matins (Morning Prayer) with hymns


• 6.30 pm Evensong (with sung parts of the service led by St. James' Singing Group and friends)

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