NON JURORS' COMMUNION OFFICE

Sion L40.2/E67

NON JURORS' COMMUNION OFFICE

Early 18th century

Non Jurors' Communion Office. A volume of large format and written in bold characters, evidently designed for use on a lectern during services. The volume appears to have been owned by the nonjuror bishop Thomas Deacon (1697-1753); see Custodial History field. Begins (without title page): 'The Communion. Then shall the Priest take so much Bread and Wine as shall suffice...'. The liturgy includes new liturgical usages (such as the mixing of water with communion wine and a prayer for the descent of the Holy Ghost on the consecrated elements) promoted by two nonjuror bishops, Jeremy Collier (1650-1726) and Thomas Deacon (1697-1753), who was ordained by Collier in 1716 and eventually his son-in-law. The new usages were introduced in 1717-18, the 'usagers party' becoming a faction within the nonjurors.

A communion office, taken partly from primitive liturgies, and partly from the first English reformed Common-prayer-book: together with offices for confirmation, and the visitation of the sick' (London: printed for James Bettenham, 1718). Ascribed to one or more of the following: Jeremy Collier, Thomas Brett, Thomas Deacon. Copy in the Library at H5087.5. Jeremy Collier, 'Reasons for restoring some prayers and directions, as they stand in the communion-service of the first English reform'd liturgy, compiled by the bishops in the 2d and 3d years of the reign of King Edward VI' (London, 1717). Copy in the Library at H5087.5 1.01.

21 ff.

Open

Inserted at the front of the book is a note: 'This book was given to me by my father the late Henry Deacon and it belonged to his grandfather Bishop of Manchester. Harriet Rowland nee Harriet Deacon, Church House, Petersham, Richmond, Surrey'. To this was added a later inscription in another hand: 'Given to me by Mrs. Rowland after her husband Dr. Rowland's death Dec 31st 1900. He was the Medical Officer of Health of Richmond and lived at Petersham. W.H. Oxley, late Vicar of Petersham, Surrey'. Harriet Rowland (c.1819-1912) was the wife of John Taylor Rowland, M.D. (c.1821-1900). William Henry Oxley was Vicar of Petersham 1891-1913. Harriet Rowland's inscription appears to refer to the nonjuring bishop Thomas Deacon (1697-1753) who settled in Manchester around 1722. Acquired by Sion College after 1913 and transferred to Lambeth Palace Library in 1996.

Fine binding of black goatskin or sheepskin, tooled in gold, 373 x 248 mm. End papers of marbled paper. Now preserved in a drop spine box together with an original leather chemise. Paper leaves. Text written in red and black inks within a frame ruled in red ink.