Sir, - How wonderful that the 450th anniversary of the 1549 Prayer Book was celebrated in Christ Church (Irish Times, April 17th).
How disturbing, though, that the new prayer book promised to the Church of Ireland in 2004 is also to be called The Book of Common Prayer. It is to contain services in "traditional and contemporary styles".
If The Book of Common Prayer as is, is incorporated, then traditionalists will be content, but I fear this is unlikely. Canon Brian Mayne is quoted as saying that the new book will contain both traditional and contemporary styles as both are being "recognised as authentic worship integrities".
Authentic worship integrities" indeed! This unhappy bit of language offers a baleful foretaste, I fear, of what is to come. - Yours, etc.,
R.I. Stoupe, Treasurer, Ireland Branch, The Prayer Book Society, Taughblane Road, Hillsborough, Co Down.