The Church of England has experienced two substantial periods of liturgical revisior during this century, spanning between them almost 50 years. The reforms came in response to pressures for change within Church and society, and also reflectec doctrinal, missiological and scholarly tensions within the Church itself. The significance of the first period of revision, 1906-1928, is frequently underestimated The literature emphasizes the 1928 Prayer Book's role as a disciplinary standard, bu1 neglects the liturgical debate and discussion which lay behind it. While the Book itself was a conservative revision of the 1662 Prayer Book, the background to its compilatior reveals two important and vigorous strands of debate. Firstly, the Church was struggling to find an identity and character as a catholic, as well as a reformed, body and secondly, there were impassioned pleas for a more accessible liturgy to meet the needs of unchurched people. The second period of revision, 1955-1980, culminating in the publication of the Alternative Service Book, was more obviously successful in translating pressures fOr change into a living liturgy. The most significant influence was the widespread adoption of 'parish communion' ideals, which the new eucharistic rites are designed to serve. However, liturgical scholarship has also been hugely influential on new rites, and the extent of this has not been fully recognised. While changes in the understanding of eucharistic sacrifice and prayer for the dead were well debated, other reforms, particularly the adoption of Dix's four-action shape and implicit changes ir the doctrine of consecration, have received less attention than they deserve. This thesis attempts to remedy these deficiencies, and offers a fresh account of the work of revision. Attention is concentrated on the eucharist. The thesis is rooted in primary sources, particularly the papers of the Liturgical Commission and the Church's synods.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:264038 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Lloyd, Edward Gareth |
| Publisher | Durham University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1049/ |
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