This year is the 350th anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer, the authorized text of services for the Church of England, and the accompanying Act of Uniformity. It’s interesting to note the Anglican Prayer for Parliament, as set down in 1662, in the gorgeous language of the BCP:
MOST gratious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Kingdom in generall, so especially for the high Court of Parliament, under our most religious, and gratious King, at this time assembled: That thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety honour and welfare of our Soveraign, and his kingdoms; that all things may be so ordered and setled by their endeavors upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and Piety may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly begg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
The version in the shorter prayer book of 1947 reads very similarly, but with some updatings:
MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this kingdom in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament, under our Sovereign Lady the Queen at this time assembled: That thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and her Dominions; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
