THE PREFACE
The Holy Catholic Church has from very early days made careful provision for the ordering of its worship. The law of worship of the Church in Wales is contained in the Book of Common Prayer. In the seventeenth century the forms of Common Prayer from the previous century were revised and amended, while the need for further revision first evident in the nineteenth century has developed into a clearer process in this twentieth century. But in such revision there has never been any intention to depart from the doctrine, discipline or worship of the Church. It remains the intention of the Church in Wales that there be one Use in this Province, and also that the language of public worship be clearly understood by the people.
The Book of Common Prayer contains nothing which is contrary to Holy Scripture or to sound doctrine. The readings prescribed for the Services of the Church are taken from Holy Scripture. It is an important and constant principle that the whole range of biblical teaching drawn from every part of the Scriptures should be read in the Services of the Church. By this regular and systematic reading of Holy Scripture and meditation upon it both clergy and people are encouraged to grow in the knowledge and love of God.
The Book of Common Prayer makes provision for the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons. From New Testament times and through the first two centuries the Christian Church developed a clear pattern of three orders of Ministers. It is the intention and purpose of the Church in Wales to maintain and continue these three orders. No person shall be authorized to execute
THE PREFACE
the office of bishop, priest or deacon in this Church unless evidence can be produced of ordination with the layingon of hands by bishops who are themselves duly qualified and authorized to confer Holy Orders.
If any doubt or dispute arises concerning any of the provisions of this book, reference shall in every case be made to the Bishop of the Diocese for his determination of the matter. The Bishop shall not allow any practice which conflicts with the provisions of this Book. In cases of doubt the Bishop may refer any question of interpretation to the Archbishop.
THE CALENDAR
(A) SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS WITHIN THE SUNDAY CYCLE:
FIRST TO FOURTH SUNDAYS IN ADVENT
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD: CHRISTMAS DAY
FIRST AND SECOND SUNDAYS AFTER
CHRISTMAS
EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
FIRST TO SIXTH SUNDAYS AFTER EPIPHANY
SEPTUAGESIMA, SEXAGESIMA AND
QUINQUAGESIMA
ASH WEDNESDAY
FIRST TO FOURTH SUNDAYS
IN LENT
PASSION SUNDAY:
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
PALM SUNDAY:
SIXTH SUNDAY IN LENT
MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY
IN HOLY WEEK
MAUNDY THURSDAY
GOOD FRIDAY
EASTER EVE
EASTER DAY
EASTER MONDAY AND TUESDAY
FIRST TO FOURTH SUNDAYS AFTER EASTER
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER:
ROGATION SUNDAY
ASCENSION DAY
SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY: SIXTH
SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
PENTECOST: WHITSUNDAY
MONDAY AND TUESDAY AFTER PENTECOST
TRINITY SUNDAY: SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
FIRST TO TWENTYFIFTH SUNDAYS AFTER
TRINITY
SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT
The Calendar,
Tables and Rules
THE CALENDAR
(13) OTHER HOLY DAYS:
JANUARY
I THE NAMING OF JESUS
6 EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
14 Hilary, Bishop (368) Common of Bishops
15 Kentigern, Bishop (c. 603) Common of Bishops
17 Antony of Egypt, Abbot (356) Common of Abbots
24 Cadog, Abbot (6th century) Common of Abbots
25 THE CONVERSION OF
PAUL, APOSTLE
27 John Chrysostom, Bishop and
Doctor (407) Common of Doctors
28 Thomas Aquinas, Doctor (1274) Common of Doctors
FEBRUARY
2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE
(Candlemas)
9 Teilo, Bishop (6th century) Common of Bishops
23 Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr (c. 155) Common of Martyrs
24 MATTHIAS, APOSTLE
MARCH
1 DAVID, BISHOP, PATRON
SAINT OF WALES
2 Chad, Bishop (672) Common of Bishops
7 Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions,
Martyrs of Carthage (203) Common of Martyrs
12 Gregory the Great, Bishop and Doctor (604) Common of Doctors
17 Patrick, Bishop (5th century),
Patron Saint of Ireland Common of Bishops
19 Joseph of Nazareth Common of Saints
25 THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY (Lady Day)
29 Woolos, King (6th century) Common of Saints
THE CALENDAR
APRIL
15 Padarn, Bishop (6th century) Common of Bishops
20 Beuno, Abbot (c. 640) Common of Abbots
21 Anselm, Bishop and Doctor (1109) Common of Doctors
23 George, Martyr (304?), Patron
Saint of England Common of Martyrs
25 MARK, EVANGELIST
30 Catherine of Siena (1380) Common of Saints
MAY
1 PHILIP AND JAMES,
APOSTLES
2 Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor
(373) Common of Doctors
4 Monica (378) Common of Saints
5 Asaph, Bishop (6th century) Common of Bishops
26 Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop
(605) Common of Bishops
27 The Venerable Bede, Doctor (735) Common of Doctors
JUNE
1 Justin, Apologist and Martyr
(c. 165) Common of Martyrs
2 Blandina and her Companions,
Martyrs of Lyons (177) Common of Martyrs
9 Columba, Abbot (597) Common of Abbots
11 BARNABAS, APOSTLE
14 Basil the Great, Bishop and
Doctor (397) Common of Doctors
20 Alban, Julius and Aaron,
Martyrs (3rd century) Common of Martyrs
THE CALENDAR
JUNE (continued)
24 THE NATIVITY OF JOHN
THE BAPTIST
28 Irenaeus, Bishop and Doctor
(c. 200) Common of Doctors
29 PETER, APOSTLE
30 The Martyrdom of Paul, Apostle
JULY
2 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
11 Benedict, Abbot (c. 540) Common of Abbots
22 MARY MAGDALENE
25 JAMES, APOSTLE
28 Samson, Bishop of Dôl
(5th century) Common of Bishops
AUGUST
3 Germanus of Auxerre, Bishop (5th century) Common of Bishops
6 THE TRANSFIGURATION
OF OUR LORD
8 Dominic of Toulouse, Abbot (1221) Common of Abbots
15 THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY, MOTHER OF
OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST
20 Bernard, Abbot (1153) Common of Abbots
24 BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
25 Timothy and Titus Common of Saints
28 Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and
Doctor (430) Common of Doctors
29 The Beheading of
John the Baptist
31 Aidan, Bishop (651) Common of Bishops
THE CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
8 The Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
11 Deiniol, Bishop (6th century) Common of Bishops
13 Cyprian, Bishop, Doctor and
Martyr (258) Common of Martyrs
14 Holy Cross Day
16 Ninian, Bishop (c. 430) Common of Bishops
21 MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND
EVANGELIST
29 MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
(Michaelmas)
30 Jerome, Doctor (420) Common of Doctors
OCTOBER
4 Francis of Assisi (1226) Common of Saints
17 Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and
Martyr (c. 117) Common of Martyrs
18 LUKE, EVANGELIST
23 James of Jerusalem, Bishop Common of Bishops
28 SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES
31 Vigil
NOVEMBER
1 ALL SAINTS
2 The Commemoration of All Souls
5 Cybi, Abbot Oth century) Common of Abbots
6 Illtud, Abbot (5th century) Common of Abbots
8 The Saints of Wales
11 Martin of Tours, Bishop (c. 397) Common of Bishops
12 Tysilio, Abbot (6th century) Common of Abbots
14 Dyfrig, Bishop (5th6th century) Common of Bishops
16 Margaret of Scotland (1093) Common of Saints
18 Hilda, Abbess (680) Common of Abbesses
29 Vigil. Day of Intercession for the
Mission of the Church
THE CALENDAR
NOVEMBER (continued)
30 ANDREW, APOSTLE,
PATRON SAINT OF
SCOTLAND
DECEMBER
7 Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor
(397) Common of Doctors
21 THOMAS, APOSTLE
24 Vigil
25 NATIVITY OF OUR LORD:
CHRISTMAS DAY
26 STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR
27 JOHN, APOSTLE AND
EVANGELIST
28 THE INNOCENTS' DAY
29 Thomas of Canterbury, Common of Martyrs
Bishop and Martyr (1170)
TABLES AND RULES FOR THE MOVABLE AND IMMOVABLE FEASTS AND DAYS OF FASTING TO BE OBSERVED DURING THE YEAR, TOGETHER WITH A TABLE OF PRECEDENCE OF HOLY DAYS OVER SUNDAYS.
(1) RULES FOR THE MOVABLE FEASTS, FASTS AND HOLY DAYS
The date of Easter Day, on which the rest depend, shall be the Sunday next following the date of the Full Moon occurring on or next after the Twentyfirst day of March, provided that when the Full Moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter Day shall be the Sunday after.
Advent Sunday is the nearest Sunday to the Feast of St. Andrew, whether before or after, or on the day of that Feast itself.
Ash Wednesday is the Wednesday after Quinquagesima.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Eve.
The Rogation Days are the three days following the Fifth Sunday after Easter: Rogation Sunday.
Ascension Day is forty days after Easter.
Pentecost or Whitsunday is seven weeks after Easter.
Trinity Sunday is eight weeks after Easter.
The Ember Days are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the First Sunday in Lent, Pentecost, September 14 and December 13.
TABLES AND RULES
(2) A TABLE OF ALL THE HOLY DAYS
These are:
(i) All Sundays in the year, Christmas Day, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Ascension Day, on all of which members of the Church ought to be present at Divine Service. (The Feasts of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost (Whitsun) are kept with Octaves.)
(ii) The following days, each of which is appointed to be observed by the use of its Proper Service and Preface:
January 1st The Naming of Jesus
January 25th The Conversion of Paul, Apostle
February 2nd The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
February 24th Matthias, Apostle
March 1st David, Bishop, Patron Saint of Wales
March 25th The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
April 25th Mark, Evangelist
May 1st Philip and James, Apostles
June 11th Barnabas, Apostle
June 24th The Nativity of John the Baptist
June 29th Peter, Apostle
July 22nd Mary Magdalene
July 25th James, Apostle
August 6th The Transfiguration of our Lord
August l5th The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ
August 24th Bartholomew, Apostle
September 21st Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
September 29th Michael and All Angels
October 18th Luke, Evangelist
October 28th Simon and Jude, Apostles
November 1st All Saints
November 30th Andrew, Apostle, Patron Saint of Scotland
TABLES AND RULES
December 21st Thomas, Apostle
December 26th Stephen, the First Martyr
December 27th John, Apostle and Evangelist
December 28th The Innocents' Day
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week
Maundy Thursday
Easter Eve
Easter Monday and Tuesday
Monday and Tuesday after Pentecost
Feasts of Diocesan Patrons.
(iii) The following, which are appointed for Provincial observance:
COMMON
January l4th Hilary, Bishop (368) Bishops
January l5th Kentigern, Bishop (c. 603) Bishops
January l7th Antony of Egypt, Abbot
(356) Abbots
January 24th Cadog, Abbot (6th century) Abbots
January 27th John Chrysostom, Bishop
and Doctor (407) Doctors
January 28th Thomas Aquinas, Doctor
(1274) Doctors
February 9th Teflo, Bishop (6th century) Bishops
February 23rd Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
(c. 155) Martyrs
March 2nd Chad, Bishop (672) Bishops
March 7th Perpetua, Felicity and their
Companions, Martyrs of
Carthage (203) Martyrs
March l2th Gregory the Great, Bishop
and Doctor (604) Doctors
March l7th Patrick, Bishop (5th
century), Patron Saint of
Ireland Bishops
March 19th Joseph of Nazareth Saints
March 29th Woolos, King (6th century) Saints
TABLES AND RULES
COMMON
April 15th Padarn, Bishop (6th century) Bishops
April 20th Beuno, Abbot (c. 640) Abbots
April 21st Anselm, Bishop and Doctor
(1109) Doctors
April 23rd George, Martyr (304?),
Patron Saint of England Martyrs
April 30th Catherine of Siena (1380) Saints
May 2nd Athanasius, Bishop and
Doctor (373) Doctors
May 4th Monica (378) Saints
May 5th Asaph, Bishop (6th century) Bishops
May 26th Augustine of Canterbury,
Bishop (605) Bishops
May 27th The Venerable Bede, Doctor
(735) Doctors
June 1st Justin, Apologist and Martyr
(c. 165) Martyrs
June 2nd Blandina and her
Companions, Martyrs of
Lyons (177) Martyrs
June 9th Columba, Abbot (597) Abbots
June l4th Basil the Great, Bishop and
Doctor (397) Doctors
June 20th Alban, Julius and Aaron,
Martyrs (3rd century) Martyrs
June 28th Irenaeus, Bishop and Doctor
(c. 200) Doctors
June 30th The Martyrdom of Paul, Apostle
July 2nd The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
July 11th Benedict, Abbot (c. 540) Abbots
July 28th Samson, Bishop of D61
(5th century) Bishops
August 3rd Germanus of Auxerre,
Bishop, (5th century) Bishops
TABLES AND RULES
COMMON
August 8th Dominic of Toulouse, Abbot
(1221) Abbots
August 20th Bernard, Abbot (1153) Abbots
August 25th Timothy and Titus Saints
August 28th Augustine of Hippo, Bishop
and Doctor (430) Doctors
August 29th The Beheading of John the
Baptist
August 31st Aidan, Bishop (651) Bishops
September 8th The Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
September 11th Deiniol, Bishop (6th century) Bishops
September 13th Cyprian, Bishop, Doctor and
Martyr (258) Martyrs
September 14th Holy Cross Day
September 16th Ninian, Bishop (c. 430) Bishops
September 30th Jerome, Doctor (420) Doctors
October 4th Francis of Assisi (1226) Saints
October 17th Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop
and Martyr (c. 117) Martyrs
October 23rd James of Jerusalem, Bishop Bishops
November 2nd The Commemoration of All
Souls
November 5th Cybi, Abbot (6th century) Abbots
November 6th Illtud, Abbot (5th century) Abbots
November 8th The Saints of Wales
November 11th Martin of Tours, Bishop (c. 397) Bishops
November l2th Tysifio, Abbot (6th century) Abbots
November l4th Dyfrig, Bishop (5th6th
century) Bishops
November 16th Margaret of Scotland (1093) Saints
November 18th Hilda, Abbess (680) Abbesses
December 7th Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor
(397) Doctors
December 29th Thomas of Canterbury,
Bishop and Martyr (1170) Martyrs
TABLES AND RULES
(iv) The following, which may be observed according to local custom:
COMMON
February 1st Bride or Bridget, Abbess
(6th century) Abbesses
February 3rd Seiriol, Abbot (6th century) Abbots
March 5th Nor (5th century) Saints
March 9th Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop
(395) Bishops
March 18th Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop
(386) Bishops
March 20th Cuthbert of Lindisfarne,
Bishop (687) Bishops
April 7th Brynach, Abbot (5th century) Abbots
April 11th Leo the Great, Bishop and
Doctor (461) Doctors
May 9th Gregory of Nazianzus,
Bishop (390) Bishops
May 19th Dunstan, Bishop (988) Bishops
May 25th Julian of Norwich (c. 1417) Saints