A SERIES of special church services will take place this weekend to mark the 350th anniversary of the introduction of a prayer book.

The Church of England Prayer Book was introduced in 1662 with hundreds of updated versions printed and used in churches since.

The Rev Steve Parish, from Holy Trinity Church, on Sankey Street, is holding a sermon series on liturgy (church services) and this Sunday will be analysing the history of the book at the 10.30am service.

He said: “The idea of ‘Common Prayer’ dates from a century before, to unify the different services in use at the time – and also to enforce particular doctrines after the Reformation which split Protestant churches from the Roman Catholic church.

“These days most Anglican churches use modern language for the main services as we want people who are new to the church not to struggle with 17th century English. But Holy Trinity still has a communion service at 10.30am on Thursdays that uses the 1662 book.”

And in a week where the church’s parliament – the Synod – meets to decide on women bishops, The Rev Parish says the history of the book could help point the way.

He added: “The prayer book includes a classic version of the Anglican spirit of compromise, with a balance between ‘too much stiffness’ in refusing variations and ‘too much easiness’ in allowing them.

“I hope this week’s vote on women bishops might follow that spirit, even though in 1662 they could hardly have imagined women leading church services.”

Other churches which have a traditional Prayer Book service on Sundays include St Elphin’s at 6.30pm, St John’s, Walton at 8am, All Saints, Thelwall, at 8am, Christ Church, Latchford at 3.30pm and St Matthew’s, Stretton at 6.30pm.