The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland: Consecration · The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland: Front Matter

The Book of Common Prayer

	The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland: Consecration

THE FORM OF THE
CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH.
¶ The Deed of Conveyance
or Donation of the Church [and Churchyard], with such
other documents as may be requisite, shall be laid before the Bishop,
or his Chancellor, some time before.
¶ The Bishop, attended
by his Chaplains, shall be received, at the principal entrance to the
Church by the Minister and other Clergy present, properly habited, the
Churchwardens, and others.
¶ At the place
where the Bishop is received, a Petition, signed by the Incumbent and
Churchwardens, Patron, Trustees or others, as the case may require, shall
be delivered to him by the Minister or some one of the persons who receive
him praying that he will consecrate the Church [and
Churchyard].
¶ The Bishop, receiving the Petition, shall
order the same to be read.
¶ Then the Bishop,
and the Clergy, and others attending upon him, shall proceed up the Nave,
saying, or singing, as they go, the twenty-fourth Psalm; the Bishop beginning,
and the Clergy and others answering by verses, as followeth:
Domini est terra.
Psalm 24.
THE earth is the LORD's,
and all that therein is : the compass of the world, and they that dwell
therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas : and prepared
it upon the floods.
WHO shall ascend into the
hill of the LORD : or who shall rise up in his
holy place?
Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart
: and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive
his neighbour.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD
: and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him :
even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob.
LIFT up your heads, O ye gates,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come
in.
Who is the King of glory : it is the LORD
strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up,
ye everlasting doors : and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is the King of glory : even the LORD
of hosts, he is the King of glory.
GLORY be to the Father, and
to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be : world without end. Amen.
¶ The Bishop and
his Chaplains having come to the Communion Table, and the Minister officiating,
to the Reading desk; the Founder, or some proper substitute, shall present
to the Bishop, sitting in his Chair, the Instrument or Instruments of
Conveyance, Donation or Endowment; which the Bishop shall lay upon the
Communion Table. And then, standing up, and turning to the Congregation,
the Bishop shall say,
DEARLY beloved in the Lord, forasmuch as
devout and holy men, as well under the Law as under the Gospel, moved
either by the secret inspiration of the Blessed Spirit, or by the express
command of God, or by their own reason and sense of order and decency,
have erected Houses for the publick worship of God, and separated them
from all profane and common uses, in order to fill the minds of those
who worship in them with greater reverence for his glorious Majesty, and
to affect their hearts with more devotion and humility in his service;
which pious works have been approved of, and graciously accepted, by our
heavenly Father: Let us not doubt but that he also approveth of the setting
apart of this place in solemn manner, for the performance of all lawful
offices of religious worship; and let us faithfully and devoutly pray
for his blessing upon this our work.
¶
Then, all kneeling, he shall say,
O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, of majesty
incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less
the walls of temples made with hands, and who yet hast been graciously
pleased to promise thine especial presence in whatever place even two
or three of thy faithful servants shall assemble in thy Name, to offer
up their supplications and their praises to thee; Vouchsafe, O Lord, to
be present with us, who are here gathered together to consecrate this
place, with all humility and readiness of heart, to the honour of thy
great Name; separating it from henceforth from all unhallowed and common
uses, and dedicating it entirely to thy service; for
reading therein thy holy Word, for preaching the same, for celebrating
thy holy Sacraments, for offering to thy glorious Majesty the sacrifice
of prayer and thanksgiving, and for blessing thy people in thy Name. Accept,
O Lord, this service at our hands, and bless it with such success as may
tend most to thy glory and the salvation of thy people; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
¶ Then standing
up, and turning to the Congregation, who shall continue kneeling, he shall
say,
REGARD, O Lord, the supplications of thy
servants, and grant that thy Word which shall be read and preached in
this place may have such success, that it may never be spoken in vain.
Grant also that the people may have grace to hear and receive what shall
be delivered out of thy most holy Word, or agreeable to the same, as the
means of their salvation; that in all their words and deeds they may seek
thy glory, and the increase of thy kingdom. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever in this
place shall confess their sins, and pray unto thee, and praise thy Name,
may be kept by thy Holy Spirit from all wandering thoughts, and worldly
and carnal imaginations. Let their prayers and praises come up before
thee, and be accepted in thy sight. Enlighten their understandings, purify
their hearts, sanctify their spirits. And those things which they faithfully
ask according to thy will, vouchsafe to give them, to the relief of their
necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that all
who worship within this place may present their bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto thee; and that they may themselves be temples of
the Holy Ghost, wherein thou wilt dwell for evermore. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be
dedicated to thee in this place by Baptism, and incorporated into thy
holy Church, may by the power of the Holy Ghost ever remain in the number
of thy faithful and elect children. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that they who in this place
shall renew and confirm in their own persons the solemn profession made
on their behalf at their Baptism, and thereupon be confirmed by the Bishop,
may be strengthened with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase
in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until they come unto thine everlasting
kingdom. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord that whosoever shall in this
place receive the Sacrament of Christ's most blessed Body and Blood, may
come to that holy Ordinance with hearty repentance, true faith, and lively
charity; that so partaking of Christ, and being filled with thy grace
and heavenly benediction, they may, to their great and endless comfort,
obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of his passion.
Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be
joined together in this place in the holy estate of Matrimony, may faithfully
perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and remain in
perfect love and peace together unto their lives' end. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be
admitted here to any Office in the sacred Ministry of thy Church, may
by thy Holy Spirit be so replenished with the truth of thy doctrine, and
endued with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee,
to the glory of thy great Name and the benefit of thy holy Church. All
which we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
NOW unto the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever
and ever. Amen.
¶ Then, the Bishop
sitting in his Chair the Act or Sentence of Consecration shall be read
by the Chancellor (or other person appointed in his stead) and signed
by the Bishop, who shall order the same to be enrolled and preserved in
the Registry.
¶ After this, Morning
Prayer may follow, as appointed in the Book of Common Prayer, except where
it is in this Office otherwise directed.
Proper
Psalms.
84, 122, 132.
Proper Lessons.
First. 1 Kin. 8. 22-61.
Second. Heb. 10.19-25.
¶ Before the Prayer of St. Chrysostom,
the Bishop may say, as follows
BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord, that it hath
pleased thee to put it into the heart of thy servant to erect this House
to thy honour and worship. We pray thee to accept this his offering, and
to remember his work and labour of love. And grant that all who shall
enjoy the benefit of this pious work may use it right thankfully to the
glory of thy blessed Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
COMMUNION SERVICE.
¶ The Bishop shall
read the Service, and the Holy Communion shall be administered.
¶ After the Collect of the Day
shall be said this Prayer:
O MOST glorious Lord God, we acknowledge
that we are not worthy to offer unto thee any thing belonging to us; yet
we beseech ‘thee, of thy great goodness, graciously to accept the
dedication of this place to thy worship and service, and to prosper this
our undertaking. Receive the prayers and intercessions of us, and all
other thy servants, who, either now or hereafter, entering into this thine
House, shall call upon thee; and by thy grace prepare our hearts and theirs
to serve thee with reverence and godly fear. Affect us with an awful apprehension
of thy Divine Majesty and with a deep sense of our own unworthiness, that
so approaching thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, with purity
and sincerity of heart, with bodies undefiled and minds sanctified, we
may be acceptable in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
	The
	Lessons are printed out at length in the original; only the citations
The Epistle.	are given here.
1 Cor. 3. 16.	1 Cor. 3:16-23.
The Gospel.
St. John 2. 13.	John 2:13-22
¶ The Communion
ended, immediately before the Benediction shall be said these Collects
following:
BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord God; for that
it pleaseth thee to have thy habitation among the sons of men, and to
dwell in the midst of the assembly of thy saints upon earth. Accept, we
beseech thee, these our services this day, and grant that in this place,
now set apart to thy glory, thy holy Name may be worshipped in truth and
purity to all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay
to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly
union and concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and
one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and
Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one
soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity,
and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
THE FORM OF THE
CONSECRATION OF A CHURCHYARD
OR OTHER BURIAL GROUND.
¶ The Deed of Conveyance
or Donation of the Ground, such other documents as may in any case be
requisite, shall be laid before the Bishop, or his Chancellor, some time
before.
¶ In the case of
a Churchyard consecrated at the same time as the Church, this Form shall
follow immediately upon the Service in the Church.
¶ First the Bishop
Clergy, and People shall say or sing one or more of these Psalms following:
Conserva me, Domine.
Psalm 16.
PRESERVE me O God : for in thee have I
put my trust.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD : Thou
art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee.
All my delight is upon the saints, that are in the
earth : and upon such as excel in virtue.
But they that run after another god : shall have great
trouble.
Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer neither
make mention of their names within my lips.
The LORD himself is the portion
of mine inheritance, and of my cup : thou shalt maintain my lot.
The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground : yea, I
have a goodly heritage.
I will thank the LORD for giving
me warning my reins also chasten me in the night-season.
I have set GOD always before
me : for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.
Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced
: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell : neither
shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
Thou shalt shew me the path of life; in thy presence
is the fulness of joy : and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
GLORY be to the Father, and
to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be : world without end. Amen.
In te, Domine, speravi.
Psalm 31.
IN thee, O LORD,
have put my trust : let me never be put to confusion, deliver me in thy
righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me : make haste to deliver me.
And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence :
that thou mayest save me.
For thou art my strong rock, and my castle : be thou
also my guide, and lead me for thy Name's sake.
Draw me out of the net, that they have laid privily
for me : for thou art my strength.
Into thy hands I commend my spirit : for thou hast
redeemed me, O LORD, thou God of truth.
I have hated them that hold of superstitious vanities
: and my trust bath been in the LORD.
I will be glad, and rejoice in thy mercy : for thou
hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversities.
Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy:
but best set my feet in a large room.
HAVE mercy upon me, O LORD,
for I am in trouble : and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea,
my soul and my body.
For my life is waxen old with heaviness : and my years
with mourning.
My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity :
and my bones are consumed.
I became a reproof among all mine enemies, but especially
among my neighbours : and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me;
and they that did see me without conveyed themselves from me.
I am clean forgotten, as a dead man out of mind : I
am become like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and
fear is on every side : while they conspire together against me, and take
their counsel to take away my life.
BUT my hope hath been in thee O LORD
: I have said Thou art my God.
My time is in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of
mine enemies : and from them that persecute me.
Shew thy servant the light of thy countenance : and
save me for thy mercy's sake.
Let me not be confounded, O LORD,
for I have called upon thee : let the ungodly be put to confusion, and
be put to silence in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence : which cruelly,
disdainfully, and despitefully, speak against the righteous.
O HOW plentiful is thy goodness,
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee : and that thou hast prepared
for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men!
Thou shalt hide them privily by thine own presence
from the provoking of all men : thou shalt keep them secretly in thy tabernacle
from the strife of tongues.
Thanks be to the LORD : for
he hath shewed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city.
And when I made haste, I said : I am cast out of the
sight of thine eyes.
Nevertheless, thou heardest the voice of my prayer
: when I cried unto thee.
O LOVE the LORD,
all ye his saints : for the LORD preserveth them
that are faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer.
Be strong, and he shall establish your heart : all
ye that put your trust in the LORD.
GLORY be to the Father, and
to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be : world without end. Amen.
Domine, exaudi.
Psalm 143.
HEAR my prayer, O LORD,
and consider my desire : hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness'
sake.
And enter not into judgement with thy servant ¡
for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he bath smitten
my life down to the ground : he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men
that have been long dead.
Therefore is my spirit vexed within me : and my heart
within me is desolate.
Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy
works : yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee : my soul gaspeth
unto thee as a thirsty land.
HEAR me, O LORD,
and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint : hide not thy face from me,
lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning,
for in thee is my trust : shew thou me the way that I should walk in,
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine
enemies : for I flee unto thee to hide me.
Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee, for thou
art my God : let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy
Name's sake : and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
And of thy goodness slay mine enemies : and destroy
all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.
GLORY be to the Father, and
to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be : world without end, Amen.
¶
Which ended, the Bishop shall say,
O GOD, with whom do live the spirits of
them that depart hence in the Lord; and who, by the example of thy holy
servants, in all ages, hast saught us to assign peculiar places where
the bodies of thy people may rest in peace, and be preserved from all
indignities, whilst their souls are safely kept in the hands of their
faithful Creator; Accept, we beseech thee, the separation of this portion
of ground to that good end; and grant us grace so to consider how frail
our condition here on earth is, as to apply our hearts unto wisdom; that
in the midst of life, thinking upon death, and daily preparing ourselves
for the judgement that is to follow, we may have our part in the resurrection
of eternal life; through him who died for our sins, and rose again for
our justification, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that they
who shall bring forth their dead into this place may be so strengthened
and comforted by thy grace, that they may not be sorry as men without
hope, for them that sleep in Jesus. but may render unto thee hearty thanks
for their brethren whom it hath pleased thee to deliver out of the miseries
of this sinful world; and, believing in thy Son Jesus Christ, may commit
their bodies to the ground, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection
to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that they who shall here
lay the bodies of the departed to rest, in hope of the resurrection to
eternal life, may evermore stedfastly believe, and continue in the fellow.
ship and communion of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that all who within this
place shall call upon thy Name may be so raised from the death of sin
to the life of righteousness, that they may be delivered from the bitter
pains of eternal death, and have their part in the glorious resurrection
of the just; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NOW unto the King eternal, immortal invisible,
the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE Lord bless us, and keep us: the Lord
make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: the Lord lift
up his countenance upon us, and give us peace, both now and for evermore.
Amen.
¶ In any other
case of the Consecration of a Burial Ground the Bishop shall be received
at the entrance thereof by the Minister of the Parish, and others, and
the Service shall be as above,
¶ The Service ended,
the Act or Sentence of Consecration shall be read by the Chancellor (or
other person acting for him) and signed by the Bishop; who shall order
the some to be enrolled and preserved in the Registry.

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