Page "Book of Common Prayer" Paragraph 45

After the 1662 prayer book, development ceased in England until the twentieth century ; that it did was, however, a bit of a close run thing.

On the death of Charles II his brother, a Roman Catholic, became James II.

James wished to achieve toleration for those of his own Roman Catholic faith, whose practices were still banned.

This, however, drew the Presbyterians closer to the Church of England in their common desire to resist ' popery '; talk of reconciliation and liturgical compromise was thus in the air.

But with the flight of James in 1688 and the arrival of the Calvinist William of Orange the position of the parties changed.

The Presbyterians could achieve toleration of their practices without such a right being given to Roman Catholics and without, therefore, their having to submit to the Church of England, even with a liturgy more acceptable to them.

They were now in a much stronger position to demand changes that were ever more radical.

John Tillotson, Dean of Canterbury pressed the king to set up a Commission to produce such a revision.

The so-called Liturgy of Comprehension of 1689, which was the result, conceded two thirds of the Presbyterian demands of 1661 ; but when it came to Convocation the members, now more fearful of William's perceived agenda, did not even discuss it and its contents were, for a long time, not even accessible.

This work, however, did go on to influence the prayer books of many British colonies.