Here’s a fabulous procrastination project when you have Really Important Things to do that you’re studiously avoiding…

Print out and look over Morning and Evening prayer in:

• the English 1549, 1552, 1559, and 1662 BCPs;
• the Scottish 1637 BCP (Laud’s prayer book);
• and the American 1789, 1892, 1928, and 1979 BCPs.
• Then, for a on-the-ground reality check, compare the 1858 English Directorium Anglicanum’s instructions with the 1662 book.
• If you’re one with a St Dunstan’s Psalter lying around, compare that with the American 1928 book.
• I don’t have an Anglican Breviary but I bet that’d be a great comparison as well while you’re at it.

This little survey raises all sorts of thoughts and questions. Some that came to my mind were…

Wow–the 1549 version really is a clean service.

Laud’s book–supposedly based on the 1559 English one–looks quite a bit different… Makes you wonder what the difference was between the rubrics and what was actually done–especially by the more catholic leaning folk.

I had no idea how innovative the 1928 American book was. As the favorite of traditionalists here I expected it to be virtually identical with the English 1662. Hardly.

How about that 1789 book–the American church has *always been* on crack, hasn’t it…