In early 2019 The Times reported a revival of traditional Anglican worship among younger churchgoers in Britain based on the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. I commented on the article at the time. The evidence was anecdotal but encouraging.
This week The Daily Mail reports that Marylebone Parish in London has seen its congregation grow exponentially after returning to the Prayer Book.
A Church of England parish has boosted its flock 20-fold after adopting traditional services abandoned by most Anglicans.
By 2010, St Marylebone in central London had seen its regular congregation fall to just six people.
But since the Rev Canon Dr Stephen Evans began to conduct services from the 500-year-old Book of Common Prayer attendance has risen.
It now stands at 100-plus, despite virus restrictions.
Dr Evans says the old prayer book’s ‘rich liturgical and linguistic heritage’ clearly still has wide appeal.
Perhaps more parishes will try this experiment.
Nick Louras 