The Parson’s Handbook

by Percy Dearmer

Publisher:

Henry Frowde

, 1907

Overview

The Parson’s Handbook contains practical directions for the structuring of the Anglican Church and its services. Published in the wake of the Anglo-Catholic reforms of the nineteenth century, it was fundamental to the development of liturgy in the Church of England.

The book was created by Percy Dearmer as part of a revived English Catholicism rooted in pre-Reformation rituals. In response to the spread of the Tridentine Mass during the late-nineteenth century, Dearmer and fellow members of the Alcuin Club advocated the “English Use” for liturgy—a proper English fashion for conducting services according to the Book of Common Prayer. Dearmer penned The Parson’s Handbook as a guide for like-minded members of the Church.

In light of more modern liturgies, Dearmer’s work may seem dated, however, it remains a valuable part of Anglican liturgical history and an engaging and useful reference work. The Logos version integrates seamlessly into your digital library, making comparisons between The Parson’s Handbook and other liturgical works easier than ever. Scripture references appear on mouseover in your preferred translations and the Topic Guide and advanced search features make personal study or academic research easy and efficient.

Key Features

• Presents the “English Use” in Dearmer’s strong, lively voice
• Offers a significant historical perspective on liturgy

Contents

• Note on the Sixth Edition
• From the Preface: Fourth Edition
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Descriptive List of Illustrations
• Introduction
• I. The Chancel and Nave and Their Furniture
• II. The Holy Table and Its Furniture
• III. Colours, Vestments, and Ornaments
• IV. Vestries
• V. General Principles of Ritual and Ceremonial
• VI. Mattins and Evensong
• VII. The Litany
• VIII. Processions
• IX. The Holy Communion—Introduction
• X. Holy Communion—Priest and Clerk
• XI. Holy Communion—The Service in Detail
• XII. Holy Communion—Analysis of the Ceremonial
• XIII. Holy Baptism
• XIV. Catechism and Confirmation
• XV. The Solemnization of Matrimony
• XVI. The Visitation and Communion of the Sick and the Churching of Women
• XVII. The Burial of the Dead
• XVIII. Notes on the Seasons
• Appendix: the Ornaments of a London Church in the Sixth Year of King Edward VI
• List of Books quoted
• Index

Product Details

• Title: The Parson’s Handbook
• Author: Percy Dearmer
• Publisher: Henry Frowde
• Publication Date: 1907
• Pages: 642

About Percy Dearmer

Rev. Percy Dearmer (1867–1936) was an English priest and liturgist who was dedicated to social justice throughout his life. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1891 and to the priesthood in 1892 at Rochester Cathedral. As a member of the Alcuin Club, he campaigned for a revived English Catholicism that was rooted in pre-Reformation ritual. His best-known work, The Parson’s Handbook, was the product of his work in that area. Dearmer served as chaplain to the British Red Cross ambulance unit in Serbia during WWI, as secretary of the Christian Social Union, and as a canon of Westminster Abbey in 1931. He died in 1936 and his ashes are interred in the Great Cloister at Westminster Abbey.