COMMON PRAYER BOOK, the name given to the collection of all the offices of regular and occasional worship accord ing to the forms of the church of England. The basis of this book is to be found in the King's set forth in 1546 by Henry VIII., which was intended to con vey instruction to the people in the most important penis of the church service; hut contained little more than the Creed, Lord's Prayer, Commandments, and Lit any. This Primer underwent two revi sions and republications under Edward VI., whose second Liturgy approaches very near in its contents to that which exists at present. It was at that review that the Sentences, Exhortation, Confes sion, and Absolution were prefixed to the Daily Service; the Decalogne was intro duced into the Communion Service ; and certain remnants of the Romish customs were finally abolished, as the sign of the cross in confirmation and matrimony, the anointing of the sick, and the prayers for the dead. On the accession of Elizabeth, another review of the Liturgy was insti tuted; hut the alterations effected were little more than in the selection of the lessons. At the review in the reign of
James 1., after the conference with the Presbyterians at Hampton Court, no change of importance was introduced, except the addition of the explanation of the Sacraments in the Catechism. Again, when on the restoration of Charles I I. is conference had been held with the dis senters at the Savoy, the subject of the common prayer book was reconsidered in convocation. The services for the it of .Tanuary and 29th of May were then added, as also the forth to be used at Sea. A few trifling alterations wore made also in the other services; but these were the last that have been effected. On tho accession of William ill. another revis ion took place, and a considerable num ber of alterations were proposed and sup ported by many of the bishops and clergy; but they were rejected by con vocation, and have never since been re• •ived by authority.