Religion: Uncommon Language

Is the language of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer as musty as it is memorable? A good many Englishmen seem to think so, to judge by the hot salvos of mail they have been dropping on the old (1549) masterpiece in the pages of London’s Daily Telegraph. Squadron Leader P.J.D. Wood of the R.A.F. touched off the controversy after the death of George VI. While intoning the commemorative service for the late sovereign, wrote Commander Wood to the Telegraph, he had snatched a quick look round at the faces of his airmen, and found them a perfect blank. Wood’s conclusion: “Only a student of theology can understand the true meaning of many of our common prayers.”*

Supporters of Wood promptly chimed in with chapter and verse. Wrote one: “An able seaman in one of His Majesty’s ships was heard grumbling after the captain had ticked off the ship’s company for slackness: ‘I don’t know ‘ow anyone expects anything to go right in this blinkin’ ship when the padre prays every day—”prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings.” ‘ “

“It is in vain that one protests that ‘prevent us in all our doings’ might become ‘precede us,'” complained Vicar J. B. Phillips. “The argument seems to be that, if people want to join in the church’s worship, then they must learn the church’s language. This . . . does nothing to bridge the gap between church and people.”

Conservatives fired back a few crisp volleys of their own. Wrote one: “It would be very interesting indeed to know how the Rev. J. B. Phillips would suggest that Shakespeare should be ‘translated’ for the poor moderns who cannot possibly understand his archaic English.” Said another: “Our translations of the Bible and our Prayer Book are written in our own language at its best period. What is all the pother about?”

At week’s end both sides were resting on their pens. Whether or not the Anglican Book of Common Prayer should be revised, all could agree that it was some time since it had been. Even the oldest communicant couldn’t quite remember when. And for a good reason—it was 1662.

* Excerpt: “We give Thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased Thee to deliver this, our sovereign king, George VI, out of the miseries of this sinful world, beseeching Thee that it may please Thee of Thy gracious goodness shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect, and to hasten Thy kingdom.”