When is the last time you read the product of An Act for Uniformity of Service and Administration of the Sacraments throughout the Realm? Whether you realize it or not this is the Book of Common Prayer that was approved by an act of the English Parliament on January 21, 1549. It was created after Henry VIII died and the advisors of his young son King Edward VI (who was raised a Protestant under the influence of Henry’s last wife Catherine Parr) wanted to make a stronger break with the Roman Catholic Church. A group of bishops of the Church of England met and developed the book but Parliament removed any doubt if it would be used or not.
