Prayer book uniformity: myth or icon?

Abstract

As the Episcopal Church contemplates prayer book revision, it faces the choice of traditional comprehensive revision or of altering its constitution and canons to permit the full authorization of supplemental liturgical materials. One of the key critiques of the latter choice centers on the myth that prayer book uniformity maintains Anglican identity. This myth began in the sixteenth century and persists today. Historical evidence belies this myth and instead supports the reality that liturgical diversity has always existed without eroding Anglican identity. This essay rehearses the historical evidence that belies the myth of prayer book uniformity. It explicates three tensions that the desire for prayer book uniformity has developed: context and text, catholic and reformed, and global and local. Finally, it discusses how the current prayer book could function as an icon for liturgical diversity.