Why 1559?
• It is the prayer book of the “classical” period in Anglicanism and of such notable Anglicans as Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Lancelot Andrewes, George Herbert, John Donne, and the community of devout men and women at Little Gidding.
• The 1559 version of the Book of Common Prayer holds particular significance for American Anglicans, as it was the first prayer book used in the New World and the early colonial settlements.
• It is second only to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer in longevity of use.
• The editors of the 1559 prayer book sought to redress the decidedly Protestant leanings of the 1552 revision, seeking that balance of reformed catholicity for which Anglicanism is known.
• The 1559 version established much of the language and many of the liturgical forms we have come to know and love as Anglicans.
If you prefer a more contemporary Morning and Evening Prayer, click here.