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How does Common Worship differ from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer?
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Anglicanism
The stately Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. The cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury, the mother church of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662) remains the official and legally authorized liturgy of the Church of England. In contrast, Common Worship, introduced in 2000, is a modern collection of services and prayers authorized as an alternative to the 1662 book.1
While the 1662 Book of Common Prayer is historically significant and serves as the standard liturgy for many Anglican churches, it utilizes traditional language. Common Worship was developed to provide a contemporary language alternative, reflecting the evolution of liturgical practice within the church. In current practice, most parishes utilize Common Worship for their services, though the 1662 book retains its status as the foundational authorized liturgy.21