The Book of Common Prayer: The Texts of 1549, 1559, and 1662
Overview
Brian Cummings volume is a unique edition of the Book of Common Prayer that brings together the texts of three different versions—1549, 1559, and 1662—to provide a panorama of the history of ritual in England from the Reformation to the twentieth century. This is the first edition for the common reader, regardless of religious background, providing full notes and a comprehensive glossary of vocabulary and technical terms. Cummings’ introduction explains the historical significance of the book and the controversial process by which it was put together and revised, the changes to the test from the Reformation to the Restoration of the monarchy and the 1662 version, and the significance of the book for everyday life and the history of the English language and its literature. He also includes full explanatory notes include historical discussion of the origins of baptism, communion, the controversial meaning of gestures, words, and the doctrinal and political arguments which have accompanied the different versions.
- Title: The Book of Common Prayer: The Texts of 1549, 1559, and 1662
- Author: Brian Cummings
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Print Publication Date: 2011
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Church of England › Liturgy--Texts; Church of England; Liturgics
- ISBNs: 9780199207176, 0199207178
- Resource ID: LLS:BKCMMNPRYR
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:13:08Z
Reviews
1 rating
Timothy Berg
8/6/2023
Cummings' semi-critical edition of the BCP is a fantastic resource, containing the text of the 1549, 1559, and 1662 editions of the BCP (the historically most important editions), though not replicating text which is identical in all three. The full text of 1662 is included, and elements of 1549 and 1559 widely differing from it are included separately. The work thus has sort of three main sections, depending on whether you wish to read 1549, 1559, or 1662. Plus of course an exceptional introduction from Cummings (similar to what his VSI with OUP presents). In addition several appendices flesh out some complexities with the black rubric and additional orders of service. One of the most useful sections of the book is the large section of detailed explanatory notes. These are bit complicated to navigate in the physical edition. Notes are organized by which of the three main sections you are in (1549, 1559, 1662). So you sort of have to know which section of the book you are in to know which section of the notes to turn to. Then, they are not numbered in the text, the text instead having a small circle symbol, so to locate the appropriate note in the Explanatory Notes section, you must know which subsection of the three main sections you are in, then navigate to that section, and locate the specific note by use of a cue phrase. This is complicated enough in the physical book. Logos could make this process astoundingly simplified, with each endnote symbol containing a hyperlink which both previews the note when single clicking and takes you directly to the appropriate section of the explanatory notes when clicking inside that preview for "more." Sadly, and strangely for what bills itself as a Logos "Research Edition," none of the endnote indicators are hyperlinked at all. The endnote circle symbol is included as plain text. The reader must perform the same complex navigational task as he would in the physical book to find the appropriate note for the section he is reading. As these notes are perhaps the most valuable part of Cummings' edition, Logos has missed a chance to take a wonderful resource and make it exceptional. Or put another way, they have missed an opportunity to simplify the unusually complicated navigational reading task and simplify it with the technological savvy their resources typically display. (Hyperlinks do exists and work it the product, for example, in the four different table of contents, where relevant hyperlinks navigate you to the appropriate section of the book.) I am not at all saying not to buy the product. Cummings' semi-critical edition of the BCP is one of the best forms of the BCP for the historian to use. It is worth having in your Logos library. Just don't expect some of the niceties you would normally get from a Logos edition.
