In March every year, the Prayer Book Society commemorates the martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer.
Here is this year’s program of events:
15:30 – Tea and biscuits
16:00 – The Legacy of Cranmer – a lecture given by the Dean of Truro, followed by questions
17:30 – Choral BCP Holy Communion
A brief history…
In the final years of Henry VIII’s reign, Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, conceived and wrote the original Book of Common Prayer.
After the accession of the Catholic Mary I, Cranmer was put on trial for treason and heresy. Imprisoned for over two years and under pressure from Church authorities, he made several recantations and apparently reconciled himself with the Catholic Church.
While this would have normally absolved him, Mary wanted him executed, and, on the day of his execution, he withdrew his recantations, to die a heretic to Catholics and a martyr for the principles of the English Reformation.
One year after his death in 1547, Parliament enacted the Act of Uniformity and for the first time England had its first, single church service, set out in the Book of Common Prayer. For over 350 years the Book of Common Prayer has been the bedrock service book for the Anglican Church.
This will be a very special occasion and it is open to anyone who would like to attend.
If you would like to find out more about the Prayer Book Society, visit their website.
