The 1549 Book of Common Prayer: Preface

The Book of Common Prayer

Advent

• First Sunday in Advent
• Second Sunday in Advent
• Third Sunday in Advent
• Fourth Sunday in Advent

Christmas

• Christmas Day
• St. Stephen's Day
• St. John the Evangelist's Day
• The Innocents' Day
• Sunday after Christmas Day
• Circumcision of Christ

Epiphany

• Epiphany
• First Sunday after the Epiphany
• Second Sunday after the Epiphany
• Third Sunday after the Epiphany
• Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
• Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
• Septuagesima Sunday
• Sexagesima Sunday
• Quinquagesima Sunday

The collects and Bible readings for Holy Communion in the 1549, 1552, and 1559 Books of Common Prayer are, with some small exceptions, all identical among those three editions, and so are all given here together. The major difference is that only the 1549 Book has the Introit (or Psalm) appointed for each Sunday and Holy Day; this is omitted in the other books. Also, only the 1549 book has readings appointed for Matins (Morning Prayer) and Evensong (Evening Prayer) for certain Sundays and Holy Days; these are given in the Kalendar for the other books.

The translation used is that of the Great Bible (a portion of which is pictured below), the first authorized English translation. This translation, compiled by Miles Coverdale, was closely based on the very first printed English translation, that of Tyndale. While the Epistles and Gospels were replaced by the "Authorized", or King James version for the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the Psalms given here, as translated by Coverdale, continued to be used in all editions of the Book of Common Prayer through the U. S. 1928 edition.

Lent

• First Day of Lent, commonly called Ash Wednesday
• First Sunday in Lent
• Second Sunday in Lent
• Third Sunday in Lent
• Fourth Sunday in Lent
• Fifth Sunday in Lent
• Sunday next before Easter [Palm Sunday]

Holy Week

• Monday before Easter
• Tuesday before Easter
• Wednesday before Easter
• Thursday before Easter [Maundy Thursday]
• Good Friday
• Easter Even

Easter

• Easter Day
• Monday in Easter Week
• Tuesday in Easter Week
• First Sunday after Easter
• Second Sunday after Easter
• Third Sunday after Easter
• Fourth Sunday after Easter
• Fifth Sunday after Easter

Ascensiontide

• Ascension Day
• Sunday after Ascension

The first chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, from the Great Bible

Whitsuntide

• Whit-sunday [Pentecost]
• Monday in Whitsun-Week
• Tuesday in Whitsun-Week

Sundays after Trinity:

• First Sunday after Trinity
• Second Sunday after Trinity
• Third Sunday after Trinity
• Fourth Sunday after Trinity
• Fifth Sunday after Trinity
• Sixth Sunday after Trinity
• Seventh Sunday after Trinity
• Eighth Sunday after Trinity
• Ninth Sunday after Trinity
• Tenth Sunday after Trinity
• Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
• Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
• Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
• Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
• Twnety-First Sunday after Trinity
• Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity
• Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
• Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity
• Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity

St. Andrew's DaySt. Thomas the ApostleConversion of St. PaulPurification of St. Mary the VirginSt. Matthias' DayAnnunciation of the Vigin MarySt. Mark's DaySt. Philip & JamesSt. Barnabas the ApostleSt. John BaptistSt. Peter's DaySt. Mary Magdalene [1549 only] St. James the ApostleSt. BartholomewSt. MatthewSt. Michael & All AngelsSt. LukeSimon & Jude, ApostlesAll Saints

Return to 1549, 1552, 1559 Book of Common Prayer