The Institution Narrative, Eucharistic Prayers, and the Anglican Liturgical Tradition

The anaphora of successive editions of the Book of Common Prayer is supplicatory rather than eucharistic.The belief among many Anglicans that the Institution was consecratory, not shared by Cranmer. The anaphora in the Apostolic Tradition and the first appearance there of the Institution, a direct influence on Rite A. However, there is need to acknowledge that there was a great variety of usage in earlier liturgies and thus counter Anglican fundamentalism. It would also be ecumenically helpful since some contemporary usages, from their traditions, keep the Institution separate (Lutheranism not connected with the Prayer but a separate, sung, declaration of the Gospel) and not within the Great Prayer seen as the 'classic shape'. Flexibility is not absent – e.g. in the Canadian adoption of Syro-Byzantine use where Narrative is extension of thanksgiving, and making use of an epiklesis, but more flexibility still would be desirable.