Tradition and Change: Worship in the United Reformed Church
The giver of this Centenary Lecture for 1974 was Chairman of the English Congregational Church worship committee and is now a member of the URC Doctrine and Worship Committee. The service books in use in the two Churches prior to union are described, and the decisions of the Assembly of the new Church as to what is required immediately. This included a hymn book supplement New Church Praise, an order for the ordination of elders and a booklet with orders for Word and Sacrament, seen as a directory rather than a text. An interesting feature is the provision of both traditional and contemporary prayers in parallel columns. The lecture gives a close analysis of the new basic order, which derives from the Joint Liturgical Group. Many issues are discussed along the way.