ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 24 July 1852, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

ALTERATION IN THE ARRANGEMENT

OF CHURCH SERVICES

We refer our readers to the subjoined? announcement respecting the future arrangement of divine service at St. Martin's—the mother church of this town —which appears to us of nothing less than national importance. It has long been felt by numbers among the most devout members of the Church of England that the length of the morning service is seriously objectionable, perhaps for all, certainly for younger and more unlearned worshippers, while the combination of the morning prayer, litany, and communion into one whole has involved some needless repititions, and prevented any addition to the number of services through the day. It seems strange that what so many have regretted no one has hitherto attempted to remedy. And yet the practice complained of rests, we believe, on no authority whatever but that of usage. No rubric or canon requires the union of the three offices we have named ; but only that the litany be read " after," i. c., not before "the morning prayer;" and the communion service at no specified hour, but only "on Sundays and other holy-days." The example which the rector of St. Martin's with the full sanction, we understand, of the Bishop of the diocese, is about to set, will soon be followed, we have little doubt, wherever the amount of the population makes it desirable to open the churches more frequently, and the revenues of the particular parish are sufficient to maintain an adequate number of ministers. We do not, while we would express our hearty approbation of the general principles embodied in the proposed plan, enter into the details, because experience may prove them to be susceptible of improvement. On the whole, however, they seem well calculated to carry out the purpose designed, and we would especially notice as most desirable in every point of view, the monthly celebration of the holy communion as a part of the afternoon service, the usual attendants on which have, in too many cases, we fear, had no opportunity of receiving that sacrament. There is only one modification of the general plan which we would venture to suggest, namely, that when the litany alone shall be said, the lack of any portion o[ holy scripture in that service be supplied by the reading of an entire chapter, instead of a*few verses as a text from the pulpit. With this, and due care to keep within bounds the length of the sermons, the recurrence to the original intentions of the framers of the liturgy will leave, we think, little or nothing to be desired in the way of accommodating the manner of our worship on the Lord _-day"to the wants and feelings of the age. First Sunday in the Month. Quarter-past Nine - Morning Prayer an:! Sermon, without Litany and Communion Service. Eleven - - - - Litany, Communion Service, Sermon, and Lord's Supper. Half-past Three - Evening Prayer (as at present). Half-past Six - - Evening Prayer (as at present). Second Sunday in the Month. Quarter-past Nine - CommunionServiceandLord's Supper. No Sermon. Eleven - - - - Morning Prayer, Litany, and Sermon, without Communion Service. Half-past Three - Litany only, and Sermon to Children and Young Persons. Half-past Six - - Evening Prayer(as at present.) Third Sunday in the Month. Quarter-past Nine - Morning Prayer and Sermon, without Litany and Communion Service. Eleven -. - - - Litany, Communion Service, and Sermon. Half-past Three - Communion Service, Sermon, and Lord's Supper. Half-past Six - - Evening Prayer (as at present.) Fourth Sunday in the Month. Quarter-pas; Nine •• Communion Service and Sermon. Eleven - - - - Morning Prayer, Litany, and Sermon, without Communion. Half-past Three - Evening Prayer and Sermon (as at present). Half-past Six - - Litany, Communion Service, and Sermon. When there are five Sundays in the month, the arrangements for the fourth will be repeated on the fifth.— Birmingham Gazette.