THE 1928 PRAYER BOOK Sts,—The remarks of the Dean of
Chichester relating to the 1928 Prayer Book are incomplete without reference to the historical background of prayer books in general. Incidentally, prayer books are in themselves temporal while their contents should be spiritual or doctrinal. On the accession to the throne by Queen Elizabeth the very first Act of Parlia- ment created her supreme head of the Church in all matters both spiritual and temporal. The Act stated clearly and categorically that a mandate or Letters Patent from the Queen was sufficient to establish all persons— both lay and spiritual—in their offices, and that no other act or ceremony could or should be necessary. This ruled out the necessity for the con- secration of bishops, which would have been impossible in any event as no Catholic bishops were then available. Thus Queen Elizabeth was exalted to the status of a Pope Queen and a Queen Pope, a proceeding of doubtful propriety which had fatal results so far as concerns the Church of England as a spiritual force. As to prayer books, Parliament has a monopoly of its own productions. But no such monopoly exists with regard to private productions—and the 1928 book comes within this category—which can be printed, sold and used at will. Further, surely the bishop has complete control over the services of the churches in his diocese, for if he has no such control he can hardly be called a bishop. This leads me to propound the following question: Suppose the Bishop of Bramble informs all his clergy that they may—if they wish—use the unauthorised prayer book of 1928, by what lawful means could any of such clergy be prevented from doing so?—Yours faithfully, 13 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent. G. W. R. THomson.
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