Best Version of the Book of Common Prayer?

I know there may be a wide variety of opinions on this...but I would like to get my hands on one and I would like suggestions which version is the best to have?

 

The best version is the one you use.

 

Seconded! We have a little different version of the BCP, but I think that since you are an American, both the American BCP 1928 and 1979 would be most useful. You can read and compare, and become a little more familiar with Anglican language and diction.

 

I do waffle between both, they both have benefits and drawbacks. I also enjoy the 1789 BCP. It usually gets forgotten, but it's the US's first and longest used prayerbook, spanning from the ratification of the constitution to well past the civil war where it was used on both sides alike. A great great book!

 

Where might one obtain a copy?

 

1662 BCP is the best.

 

I have the 1662 BCP, but like Lowly Layman said, whichever one you use is the best. In my opinion, none of the BCP editions are the best. Just like with the Bible. It also comes down to preference.

 

1662 for me. More recent BCPs such as the 1979 introduce very questionable theology. 1662 is the only one that has trustworthy theology.

 

Can you give an example of the "very questionable theology" of the 1979 version?

 

I would not say that there is 'very questionable theology' in the 1979 BCP. I would say this however, the deep rooted theology of prior books has been removed, whether it was on purpose or not, I cannot say. Look at the removal of language that deals with Atonement theology, "that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood." This line was included in the Prayer of Humble Access since the first edition of the Prayer Book and remained until the 79 BCP, in which it was removed from the Prayer of Humble Access Rite I and the prayer itself is not included in Rite II. I would say my biggest 'issues' with the 79 BCP is the defining of the "39 Articles" as a 'Historical Document' and that it is just a pain to navigate with so many options. In our parish, we have concluded that Rite I, with Eucharistic Prayer I is the easiest to use due to lack of flipping back and forth. We have been using the 1928 BCP for our Daily Office Services in our parish.

 

All great replies, thank you for the information!

 

I still prefer the '79 BCP.

 

Thanks for sharing this....I am looking into all of them.

 

Any major differences I should know about between the versions?

 

Well that is all I was trying to say. It's not an addition but a removal of existing theology, you're right, but the end result creates its own new and unique brand of theology which is not connected with Anglican history. The omission is what I was trying to get across.

 

I'd get the one that your parish uses and start there. I think that we're much more likely to use the BCP that we hear on Sundays.

And ignore the naysayers. 1979 rocks.

 

Worthy of some thought - the omission of theology can create new theology the more you think about the clearer that is to understand.

thanks for that....

 

To some extent, I agree. However, I think the modern language of the 1979 version is better, IMHO of course!

 

To be honest, the American 1979 BCP is soooo much better in translation than our Canadian BAS. Many of the new creations tend to be very stark and blunt language than with any mellifluousness.

I also totally agree that it is also important to follow one's parish!

 

Good advice about the parish! I wasn't even aware our northern neighbors used a different book! It makes sense now that I think about it, but I didn't realize it until you just mentioned it. Why is it worse in your opinion?