This provision in Common Worship follows the structure of the Book of Common Prayer, but permits some variations which have become ‘frequently used’1 in Church of England Eucharistic worship in the last few decades. It allows much more flexibility when using the ‘BCP’ rite, and can allow the traditional texts to be adapted to a more contemporary context. Such variations began life many years beforehand, but were first officially recognized by the Church of England (though not the State) in 1928. Most of the variations contained in the proposed 1928 Prayer Book became authorized by the Church of England as ‘Alternative Services: Series One’. This is now what we enjoy as Common Worship Order Two.

If you compare CW: Order Two to the BCP Holy Communion, you will notice that some elements are now made optional and others have been added as optional inclusions. Most notably in CW: Order Two

• The Summary of the Law is permitted instead of the longer recitation of The Commandments.

• The Collect for the Sovereign is optional.

• The salutation (The Lord be with you/And also with you) can be included before the Collect and the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer.

• There is provision for an Old Testament Lesson and a psalm in addition to the Epistle and Gospel.

• More substantial responses are given before and after the Gospel. • The Creed may be omitted on days which are not Sundays and Holy Days.

• The Sermon can be preached before the Creed.

• The Prayer of Humble Access may come before the Preface.

• The ‘Benedictus qui venit’ is now optional after the ‘Sanctus’.

• The inclusion of more seasonal short proper prefaces is possible.

• The Prayer of Oblation (CW p 243) may be added to the BCP Prayer of Consecration.

• The inclusion of ‘the Peace’ is now an option after the Lord’s Prayer.

• The Breaking of the Bread can now happen during the Agnus Dei, which is itself now an optional addition.

• The ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ may be omitted during Advent, Lent and on days which are not Sundays or Holy Days.

• There are explicit places where hymns may be sung.

There is a set of crucial notes to ensure that Order Two can be used to its ultimate flexibility and these notes can be found on page 335 of the main volume of Common Worship. Such variations and options make for Order Two to be especially suitable for a Parish Eucharist and indeed it was this series of additions and options which gave rise to the historical missional ‘Parish Communion’ movement. Interestingly, Order Two has also been made available in contemporary language for contexts where the traditional texts and structure are valued, but the need for more ‘accessible language’ is deemed necessary. (Christopher Woods, 2013)