LITURGY OF THE ANCIENTS, THE. A Liturgy compiled by Edward Stephens (d. 1706), whose theological learning gained him the name " Abbat Stephens." The title of his Liturgy, printed in 1696, shows the nature of the " reformation " which be wished to introduce. It is : " The Liturgy of the Ancients, represented, as near as well may be, in English Forms. With a Preface con cerning the Restitution of the most Solemn Part of the Christian Worship in the Holy Eucharist, to its Integrity, and just Frequency of Celebration." Stephens tells us in his Preface that he had received divine attestations that the reformation he was engaged upon, the restitu tion of a daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist In places proper for it and of a weekly celebration in all Churches, was the special work of God. He felt that he must obey God rather than man, and must prefer the authority of the Catholic Church before that of any society of men. Stephens was at first a barrister. While still a layman, he went to work to try to persuade people of the need of his reformation. He tried to influence the clergy, published pamphlets, and even petitioned Parliament. He exerted himself in this way for thirty years, but without success. When he saw no hope of having daily celebrations in public, he found an opportunity of having them in private. God, he says,
brought together a little company of constant weekly Communicants, and amongst them one in Holy Orders according to the Church of England. These persons soon agreed upon three things. 1. To meet daily. at five in the morning, at a daily Communion. 2. To endeavour, as far as they could, in all things to follow the example of the ancient Christians. 3. To avoid giving offence to any, but especially to the Church of England. After nearly a year they were likely to lose the person who officiated. Stephens therefore took Holy Orders him self, and obtained permission from the Bishop of Gloucester to use his Church at Cripplegate. The cele bration now became public, and the forms were suitably adapted. " While we had it in private, we used such enlargements of the Church Service as I thought most agreeable to the ancient Form : but when we came into the Church, we forbore most of that, and confined our selves to the Church Forms. only supplying what I thought defective therein as well as I could out of other parts of our Liturgy." See Peter Hall.