Volume 31 1961

Phases of Order in Church of Scotland Worship

The Rev Foster Franklin, MA, DD, formerly Minister at Corstorphine

This paper consists of the Presidential Address to the Annual Meeting of the Church Service Society and begins by giving an account of the contrasting ways the Reformation happened in England and Scotland. The author describes the succeeding service books used up until the Westminster Directory was adopted and the ultimate departure from many of the usages of the Reformation, giving rise to a pattern which prevailed until nineteenth century moves towards a more conscious order in worship, beginning with individual efforts and culminating in the establishment of the Church Service Society. The paper then charts in some detail the developments by which this concern was ultimately taken up by General Assemblies and its subsequent authorisation of particular books and orders.

The Liturgical Movement and Reformed Worship

The Rev John M Barkley, MA, PhD, DD, FR Hist S, Professor of Church History at the Presbyterian College, Belfast

The paper begins by summarising the developments in the centuries following the Reformation in Scotland, pausing on the ‘anglicising’ of the liturgy from the sixth edition of Euchologion onwards, up until the most recent publications. Speaking to a Cambridge society, the author outlines the Scottish practice of the communion season before making a closer examination of contemporary orders in the light of the ongoing Liturgical Movement, finding these wanting in some respects. Gains include a deepening interest in the Christian Year, and an enrichment of the language of prayer and of hymnody. In discussion of the Invitation, the author recalls the custom of ‘lifting the tokens’ (now Communion Cards) which is said still to prevail. A detailed critique of the 1940 Order in respect of the Liturgy of the Faithful is given, again from the perspective of the Liturgical Movement. The mode of communicating is further discussed, as are Reformed understandings of symbolism, presence and sacrifice.

The Function of Music in Worship

The Rev A Stewart Todd, MA, BD, Minister at North Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh

Todd was later to develop the ideas in this paper for the Lee Lecture of 1964, published in theAnnual of May 1965. Here he approaches the music of the liturgy by way of the book of Revelation and the song of the angels as well as the music of creation as in the Psalms. The music of liturgy is, however, to be seen as different from these other musics. Prior is the God who acts in worship, and music, as handmaid, services the Christ-Word in the midst. This leads the author to call in question much now familiar in worship, questioning the role of organ voluntaries (as too often speaking in tongues when ‘I would rather that you prophesied’: chorale preludes are preferred as closer to prophecy in that they frame a melody associated with words), anthems where music is pre-eminent or hymn tunes which do not serve the text.

Recent Liturgical Literature

The Rev John A Lamb, BD, Ph D, DD, Librarian at New College, the University of Edinburgh

Included are descriptions of the contents of new volumes by Max Thurian and Roger Schutz and several publications on the origins of the Roman liturgy. Two new studies of Orthodox liturgy are described, as are a close study of the Te Deum. Of note is a book by Patrick Cowley which argues a change of view concerning the season of Advent. An account of a practical initiative based at a Cambridge college, relating to the Parish Communion movement, is provided by J.A.T. Robinson inLiturgy Coming to Life. Also mentioned are studies in liturgical revision (Wales, South Africa), worship and ministry, and the Paschal Liturgy. A collection of prayers by Reformers is found useful as are two books of liturgical meditations. Church music is the subject of volumes by Charles Cleall (choir training), and of a major three-volume French historical work, the latter promising others following the Encyclical Musicae Sacrae Disciplina (1955).

Reviews

No Author Specified

These are on Wotherspoon and Kirkpatrick’s Manual of Church Doctrine (rev. and enlarged by Torrance and Wright), and J.H.S. Burleigh’s A Church History of Scotland.

Annual Meeting

No Author Specified

An account of the 1960 annual meeting of the Church Service Society, at which Dr. Foster Franklin’s presidential address was given (published in current issue) and Dr. Roy Sanderson was elected President.

Regional Conferences

No Author Specified

A report is given of the 1960 one day conference at which Dr. Stewart Mechie of the University of Glasgow presented a paper on ‘The Book of Common Order and the Worship of the Scottish Reformers’. Notice is given of the forthcoming (1961) one day conference at which Professor J.A. Whyte was to speak on ‘Liturgy, Laity and Architecture’.

Illustrations

Illustrations in this volume

(All between pages 26 and 27)

St Margaret’s Parish Church, Knightswood St Margaret’s Parish Church, Knightswood: Nave and Chancel St Margaret’s Parish Church, Knightswood: The Chancel St Margaret’s Parish Church, Knightswood: Minister’s Stall and Prayer Desk