“… without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin.” Holy Communion Proper Preface | Upon Christmas-day, and seven days after.

“… may at length attain to the light of everlasting life …” Saint John the Evangelist’s Day. The Collect.

In the original Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer (i.e. from 1662 until the major overhaul in 1871) today (27 December, Saint John the Evangelist) was the only day on which readings from Revelation were prescribed: Ch.1 at Mattins, Ch.22 at Evening Prayer.

“… out of the mouths of babes and sucklings …” The Innocents’ Day. The Collect. The photo is of Holy Innocents’ Church in Rossmore (NSW, Diocese of Sydney): Bishop Broughton laid the foundation stone on 28 December 1848.

A great read, from the pen of Carl Trueman. There is much we can learn from the rhythms of the liturgical calendar: Relief from a world in flux wng.org/opinions/relie…

31 December: the #BCP Calendar commemorates Silvester, Bishop of Rome. The attached commentary is from Bishop Alfred Barry’s “The Teacher’s Prayer Book”.

Today marks #70years (31 December 1955) since the final approved form of the Book of Common Prayer was locked into the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia. 🇦🇺 If you have a copy with the Royal Warrant dated 12 June 1953 that’s the one!

“… in all things obey thy blessed will …” The Circumcision of Christ [January 1] The Collect

I have been asked to share details about the various editions of the BCP I am using for posts. Many come from this 1863 Eyre & Spottiswoode edition with clasp, 15cm x 9.5cm. Longprimer twenty-fourmo in 10 point font. This is usually my preferred source.

Even more of a favourite is this Oxford edition (1937 royal warrant, gifted in 1944) “pica” (i.e. 12 point) duodecimo 18cm x 11.5cm. This is my largest edition so it makes for good quality images. As a bonus, includes the Act of Uniformity!

Here’s my smallest edition, one I never use because it is quite fragile. William Collins; late Victorian (dates Easter from 1879) “Diamond 48mo” i.e. sextodecimo format and a tiny font mostly beyond my ability to read! 10cm x 6cm, 396 pages.

“… his name was called JESUS …” The concluding portion of today’s Gospel (St Luke 2:15ff; Romans 4:8ff for the Epistle.) “The same Collect, Epistle, and Gospel shall serve for every day after unto the Epiphany.”

Prayer Book Society NSW You made me go & look. I have two 8x12cm BCP + Hymns A&M. The brown one, Ruby 32mo, CUP dates ~1925 (moveable feasts begin 1926). The White French Morocco one, New Ruby, OUP, dates to ~1957 & was given to my Mum, by my grandma, at her Confirmation in 1958. It’s easier to read!

The Naming and Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ (January 1) in An Australian Prayer Book (AAPB, 1978). A feature of AAPB is its use of Sentences: an opening sentence to lead into worship, and one after communion, to introduce prayer and reflection, or be used as an anthem.

“The same Collect … shall serve for every day after unto the Epiphany.”

“… who by the leading of a star …” 💫 The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles [January 6] The Collect

“God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds : and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world;” [“… at Morning Prayer, instead of the Apostles’ Creed, this Confession of our Christian Faith, commonly called The Creed of Saint Athanasius …”]

An Epiphany message from our Secretary, the Rev. Jonathan Adams. 💫 We invite you to join us at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney, for Festal Choral Evensong for the Conversion of St Paul, 6pm on Saturday 24 January 2026.