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The growing demand for Prayer Book services, particularly Evensong, has spurred the Diocese of Southwark to organise a training workshop which will be supported by the Prayer Book Society.
The practical workshop, with spaces for 20, focusses on leading worship with the Book of Common Prayer. It takes place later this month and will be led by Dr Charlotte Gauthier, Assistant Director of Discipleship for the south London diocese and the Chairman of the PBS, Bradley Smith.
Open to clergy, lay ministers, church officers and musicians, it aims to “show … how to use the beautiful, timeless, and life-giving Prayer Book to lead worship.”
“Primarily the curates that we have in the diocese and neighbouring dioceses are not taught thoroughly at theological colleges to conduct Prayer Book worship,” says Charlotte, whose own faith stems from use of the BCP. “Part of the impetuous is to provide that training, so that they feel comfortable leading this kind of worship.”
“A lot of the growth of congregations is around Prayer Book services,” she says, “And often the interest in Evensong comes from younger people.”
Consequently being able to conduct BCP services offers parishes a growth opportunity.
“We were delighted to work alongside the Diocese of Southwark in teaching people how to use the Book of Common Prayer for public worship,” says Bradley Smith, Chairman of the Prayer Book Society.
Bradley says it’s exciting that lay ministers and church officers are involved. “For example it’s for churchwardens who, in a period when fewer clergy are available, may be called on to lead public worship. So we’re looking particularly at leading morning and evening prayer and helping people discover what else the Prayer Book contains,” he says.
The two hour workshop has attracted participants from London, Rochester and even Chichester dioceses as well as those from Southwark. “The training is just not available elsewhere,” says Charlotte.
Participants will receive a free resource pack provided by the PBS. This will include a copy of the Book of Common Prayer, Paul Thomas’ book, ‘Using the Book of Common Prayer’ the Prayer Book Today magazine and other items including the Society’s theological publication Faith & Worship. Everyone attending will also be offered a 25 percent discount of their first year’s membership of the PBS.
The aim of this session is to empower people, not just clergy, by giving them the tools to lead Prayer Book worship. Charlotte hopes that the workshop will be the first of many similar sessions.
