The American Prayer Book of 1892

Historical background

By the later nineteenth century the 1789 book was felt to be rigid for a growing, more diverse church, shaped by the Oxford Movement, missionary expansion, and the ideal of a national church able to reach all Americans. William Reed Huntington, author of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, proposed “liturgical enrichment and increased flexibility of use.” A revision begun at the General Convention of 1880 produced the Book Annexed (1883); after debate and reduction, the revision was completed in 1892. Changes to the text, rather than a wholesale revision, were adopted.

What changed

The revision restored some elements omitted in 1789, including the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis as canticles at Evening Prayer, and the Benedictus as a canticle in Morning Prayer in full. It added propers (collect, epistle and gospel) for the Transfiguration, more occasional prayers and thanksgivings, a short form of penitential office for Ash Wednesday, and greater permission to shorten Morning and Evening Prayer on weekdays. The Ten Commandments in Communion could be replaced on some occasions by the Summary of the Law.

Notable and controversial

The 1892 revision was deliberately cautious, and many proposals from the Book Annexed (such as greater freedom in services and more material from the 1549 tradition) were dropped. Low churchmen feared Romanising changes, while High churchmen wanted more. The book reflected the “Broad” or ecumenical aims of Huntington, and it soon proved insufficient, so further revision began in 1913 that led to the 1928 book.