Went to St Philip’s, York Street on Christmas Eve. It was a fairly traditional service using the 1978 prayer book, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I spoke to the rector, Justin Moffatt, about it afterwards.
“You should see our early Sunday morning service,” he said. “We use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. It’s hardcore. Every week in that service we ‘acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness’, and at the same time we affirm that it is ‘God’s property to have mercy’. It’s powerful on sin and grace. You say that every week, and it affects your theology—your view of God, and your view of self. I know it’s not the missional way forward, but it is still powerful.”
It made me wonder if we have lost something in the move away from liturgical worship. I’m always struck by the potency and clarity of the prayers and pronouncements of the BCP. The words are beautifully scriptural, with a focus on grace and justification by faith alone. They are good words, and they feed the soul.
Has it been a mistake to abandon the prayer book over the last 30 years? I wouldn’t go that far. My own observation is that the traditionally liturgical Anglican services are, for the most part, aging and declining. The most vibrant churches I’ve seen have been more contemporary in their approach. A mass return to the prayer book would, I fear, turn us into “cultural museums”.
Yet we have undoubtedly lost something both powerful and precious in abandoning the liturgy. I really want the best of both worlds here - the depth and gravity of the BCP, but in a way that is accessible and compelling for the average Sydney-sider. Is this possible?
