“The room was full of authors”

Two Bishops were among those present at Sarum College on Thursday for the launch of a new service book by the Church of England.

Common Worship: Morning and Evening Prayer presents the Church of England’s two main daily services of prayer in an attractive and lightweight format, easy to carry around. It is hoped that this will encourage more people to say the Daily Office with the Church. The launch took place during a meeting of the Church of England’s national Liturgical Commission at the College.

Canon Dr James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College, said,  “It was a great pleasure to welcome the Liturgical Commission to Sarum College and to provide the launch venue. I was taken by the care with which the book has been produced.  This practical and attractive book will help many follow a daily rhythm of prayer with the wider Church.

“In a world so distracted by busyness, our lives will surely be nourished if we take time to stand still in the presence of God, immersing ourselves in Scripture, the Psalms, and prayer for the world.”

Dr Thomas Allain-Chapman, Publishing Manager for the Archbishop’s Council, added,  “Thousands of people across the Church of England join together in the daily prayer of the Church using the book, app and online versions. This beautiful, simple and compact new volume will, I hope, encourage many more to discover its treasures for themselves."

“The room was full of authors”, Sarum College Bookshop Manager Jenny Monds, said, including Lucy Moore, the originator of the Messy Church concept and the Revd Dr Samuel Wells, broadcaster and successor to Bishop Nicholas as Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields."

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd. Robert Atwell, said the new volume would make a good confirmation present.