ORDINAL, the service used in Episcopal churches for the ordination of ministers. The English ordinal was drawn up by a commission appointed in the third year of Edward VI. (1550), and added to the Boole of Common Prayer. It was slightly modified in the reign of Elizabeth, and was again revised by the convocation of 1661. The Eng lish ordinal, in its general structure, resembles the ancient services used for that purpose, but, possesses much greater simplicity, and has some features—e.g.., the numerous ques tions addressed to the candidates—peculiar to itself. There are separate services for the "malting of deacons" and the "ordering of priests," but these are practically joined in one, and used on the same day The service for the consecration of bishops is altogether The ordination takes plaice at one of the ember seasons, and during the public service. after morning prays and a sermon on the subject, and begins with the presentation of the candidates by the archdeacon. The bishop inquires as to their fitness, and com mends them to the prayers of the congregation. The litany is then said with special petitions for the candidates for each order, and the communion service Commences with a special collect, epistle, and gospel. Between the epistle and gospel the oath of suprem acy is administered, and the candidates for deacons' orders are questioned by the bishop and ordained. The gospel is read by one of the newly ordained deacons. The midi
dates for priests' orders are then solemnly exhorted and interrogated, and the prayers of all present are asked for the divine blessing upon them. For this purpose a pause is, made in the service for silent prayer. After this the hymn, reni Creator Spiritus (Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire)—a composition of great antiquity, supposed to be as old as the 4th c.—is sung, and, the candidates kneeling before the bishop, lie and the assist ant presbyters lay their hands upon the head of each, with the words, "receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work or a priest in the church of God," etc.
The only other ceremony is the q•esentation of each candidate with the Bible in token of authority to preach; as the deacons had been before presented with the New Testament with authority to read the gospel. The service concludes with the adminis tration of the sacrament of the Lord's-supper.
The consecration of bishops is performed by an archbishop, or some bishop appointed, in his place, and two or more of his suffragans, and may take place on any Sunday or holy day. The service is very similar to that for the ordination of priests.