The Book of Common Prayer Table of
contents
The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining
and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons
According to the order of
The Church of England
The Preface
It is evident unto
all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors, that
from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers
in Christ's Church; Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which offices
were evermore had in such reverend estimation, that no man might
presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried,
examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the
same; and also by publick Prayer, with Imposition of Hands, were
approved and admitted thereunto by lawful authority. And therefore,
to the intent that these Orders may be continued, and reverently
used and esteemed, in the Church of England; No man shall be
accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in the
Church of England, or suffered to execute any of the said
functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted
thereunto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had
formerly Episcopal Consecration or Ordination.
And none shall be admitted a Deacon, except he
be full twenty-three years of age unless he have a Faculty. And
every man which is to be admitted a Priest shall be full
twenty-four years of age, unless being over twenty-three years of
age he have a Faculty. And every man which is to be ordained or
consecrated Bishop shall be full thirty years of age.
And the Bishop, knowing either by himself or by
sufficient testimony any person to be a person of virtuous
conversation and without crime, and after examination and trial
finding him to possess the qualifications required by law and
sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may on the Sundays
immediately following the Ember Weeks or on the Feast of Saint
Michael and All Angels or of Saint Thomas the Apostle, or on such
other days as shall be provided by Canon, in the face of the
Church, admit him a Deacon in such manner and form as hereafter
followeth.
The
Form and Manner of Making of Deacons
The
Form and Manner of Ordering of Priests
The Form of Ordaining or
Consecrating of an Archbishop or Bishop
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.