The Second Prayer Book of Edward VI

Abstract

Reactions to the Prayer Book of 1549 ranged from one end of the ecclesiastical spectrum to the other. Princess Mary simply continued to have Mass said by her chaplains in the old way. Edmund Bonner took no steps to introduce the new book into the diocese of London until ordered to do so by the Council in August, after which he ‘did the office … sadly and discreetly’.³ Many priests used the book, but disguised it in all the external trappings and gestures of the Mass, converting the popular ‘Lady Mass’ into a ‘Communion of Our Lady’.⁴ Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, found the book’s eucharistic doctrine ‘not distant from the Catholic faith’,⁵ and would have been prepared to use it, if incarceration in the Tower had not prevented him. The feelings of the ordinary worshipper received their most vigorous expression in the West Country, where the first use of the book was the signal for a rising which spread with surprising rapidity. The rebels compared the Communion service to ‘a Christmas game’, and demanded the restoration of all the old ways.⁶ The refugee divines were thankful for such reformation as had been effected, while obviously hoping for and expecting a further instalment; they were prepared to tolerate the retention of ceremonies only as a temporary expedient.

A book has now been published a month or two back, which the English churches received with the greatest satisfaction. … You will see that the summary of doctrine cannot be found fault with, although certain ceremonies are retained in that book which may appear useless, and perhaps hurtful, unless a candid interpretation be put upon them.

Dryander to Bullinger, 5 June 1549¹

I am so much offended with that book … that if it be not corrected, I neither can nor will communicate with the Church in the administration of the Supper.

Hooper to Bullinger, 27 March 1550²