Anglican Liturgy: Sacrifice and Schizophrenia

This is the first part of a paper which examines the prayer of consecration in the Series II Communion service. In the words ‘make the memorial of his saving passion’, it is alleged that, whereas the Church of England sees itself as a broad church, this phrase seems to exclude those who believe that Christ, really present in the bread and wine, is offered to the Father while affirming those who would see Communion as a sign and a lively remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. This part of the paper is an account of a response to this criticism made by the Bishop of Durham, Ian Ramsey, and tests how far his defence of the new form is valid. In doing so the author considers the meaning of words, not only those used in this liturgy but how the 1549 and later prayer books took the Latin of the Roman Rite into English, which the author finds wanting.