FIRST REPORT

OF

THE COMMISSIONERS

APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE

RUBRICS, ORDERS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR REGULATING
THE COURSE AND CONDUCT OF PUBLIC WORSHIP, &c.

ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND;

WITH

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

AND

APPENDICES.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty

LONDON:
PRINTED BY GEORGE EDWARD EYRE AND WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

1867

COMMISSION.

VICTORIA

 R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith,

To the Most Reverend Father in God, Our right trusty and right entirely-beloved Councillor, Charles Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury; the Most Reverend Father in God, Our right trusty and right entirely-beloved Councillor Marcus Gervais, Archbishop of Armagh, Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin Philip Henry, Earl Stanhope; Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Dudley, Earl of Harrowby, Knight of Our most Noble Order of the Garter; Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin Frederick, Earl Beauchamp; the Right Reverend Father in God, Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Archibald Campbell, Bishop of London; the Right Reverend Father in God Connop, Bishop of Saint David's; the Right Reverend Father in God Samuel, Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend Father in God Charles John, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; Our right trusty and well-beloved Edward Berkeley, Baron Portman; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Robert, Baron Ebury; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Spencer Horatio Walpole; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Edward Cardwell; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Sir Joseph Napier, Baronet; Our trusty and well-beloved Sir William Page Wood, Knight, a Vice-Chancellor; Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Robert Joseph Phillimore, Knight, Doctor of Civil Law, Our Advocate; Our trusty and well-beloved Travers Twiss, Doctor of Civil Law; Our trusty and well-beloved John Duke Coleridge, Esquire; One of Our Counsel learned in the Law; Our trusty and well-beloved John Abel Smith, Esquire; Our trusty and well-beloved Alexander James Beresford Beresford-Hope, Esquire; Our trusty and well-beloved John Gellibrand Hubbard, Esquire; Our trusty and well-beloved Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of Our Collegiate Church of Westminster; Our trusty and well-beloved Harvey Goodwin, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of Our Cathedral Church of Ely; Our trusty and well-beloved James Amiraux Jeremie, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of Our Cathedral Church of Lincoln, Regius Professor of Divinity in Our University of Cambridge; Our trusty and well-beloved Robert Payne Smith, Doctor in Divinity, Regius Professor of Divinity in Our University of Oxford; Our trusty and well-beloved Henry Venn, Clerk, Bachelor in Divinity; Our trusty and well-beloved William Gilson Humphry, Clerk, Bachelor in Divinity; Our trusty and well-beloved Robert Gregory, Clerk; and Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Walter Perry, Clerk; Greeting.

Whereas

 it has been represented unto Us that Differences of Practice have arisen from varying Interpretations put upon the Rubrics, Orders, and Directions for regulating the Course and Conduct of Public Worship, the Administration of the Sacraments, and the other Services contained in the Book of Common Prayer, according to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland, and more especially with reference to the Ornaments used in the Churches and Chapels of the said United Church and the Vestments worn by the Ministers thereof at the time of their Ministration:

And whereas

 it is expedient that a full and impartial inquiry should be made into the Matters aforesaid with the view of explaining or emending the said Rubrics, Orders, and Directions, so as to secure general Uniformity of Practice in such Matters as may be deemed essential:

Now know ye

 that We, reposing great confidence in your ability and discretion, have nominated, constituted, and appointed, and by these Presents do nominate, constitute, and appoint, you the said Charles Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury; Marcus Gervais, Archbishop of Armagh; Philip Henry, Earl Stanhope; Dudley, Earl of Harrowby; Frederick, Earl Beauchamp; Archibald Campbell, Bishop of London; Connop, Bishop of Saint David's; Samuel, Bishop of Oxford; Charles John, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; Edward Berkeley, Baron Portman; Robert, Baron Ebury; Spencer Horatio Walpole; Edward Cardwell; Sir Joseph Napier; Sir William Page Wood; Sir Robert Joseph Phillimore; Travers Twiss; John Duke Coleridge; John Abel Smith; Alexander James Beresford Beresford-Hope; John Gellibrand Hubbard; Arthur Penrhyn Stanley; Harvey Goodwin; James Amiraux Jeremie; Robert Payne Smith; Henry Venn; William Gilson Humphry; Robert Gregory; and Thomas Walter Perry, to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of the said Inquiry.

And

 We do hereby enjoin you, or any Ten or more of you, to make diligent inquiry into all and every the matters aforesaid, and to report thereupon from time to time as to you, or any Ten or more of you, may appear to be most expedient, having regard not only to the said Rubrics, Orders, and Directions contained in the said Book of Common Prayer, but also to any other laws or customs relating to the matters aforesaid, with power to suggest any alterations, improvements, or amendments with respect to such matters or any of them as you, or any Ten or more of you, may think fit to recommend.

And whereas

 it has further been represented unto Us that some alterations may advantageously be made in the Proper Lessons appointed to be read in Morning and Evening Prayer on the Sundays and Holydays throughout the year, and in the Calendar with the Table of First and Second Lessons contained in the said Book of Common Prayer.

Now

 We hereby further enjoin you, or any Ten or more of you, after you have completed and reported on the matters referred to in the former part of this Commission, to inquire into and consider the Proper Lessons so appointed to be read as aforesaid, and the Table of First and Second Lessons contained in the said Book of Common Prayer, with the view of suggesting and reporting to Us whether any and what alterations and amendments may be advantageously made in the Selection of Lessons to be read at the time of Divine Service.

And

 for the better discovery of the truth in the Premises We do by these Presents give and grant unto you, or any Ten or more of you, full power and authority to call before you, or any Ten or more of you, such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be the better informed of the truth in the Premises, and to inquire of the Premises and every part thereof by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever.

And

 Our further Will and Pleasure is, that you Our said Commissioners do, with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the duties hereby imposed upon you, certify unto Us, under your Hands and Seals, or under the Hands and Seals of any Ten or more of you, your several proceedings in the Premises.

And

 We do further will and command, and by these Presents ordain, that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you Our said Commissioners, or any Ten or more of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter or thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.

And for your assistance in the execution of this Our Commission We have made choice of Our trusty and well-beloved William Francis Kemp, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, to be the Secretary to this Our Commission, and to attend you, whose services and assistance We require you to use, from time to time, as occasion may require.

Given at Our Court at Saint James’s, the third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Our Reign.

By Her Majesty’s Command,

GATHORNE HARDY.

Project Canterbury