We use the Book of Common Prayer for most but not all services - see calendar. 

The Book of Common Prayer was first published in 1549 (and revised in 1662) so not surprisingly it sounds a bit like Shakespeare, but is actually a lot easier to understand!   

On first hearing, the phrasing is strange and certainly not the stuff of everyday speech. But we get a lot of everydayness every day, and once we become familiar with the prayer book, the language ceases to be an obstacle and becomes an attraction. 

An hour of something that is different from everyday is as refreshing to the mind as it is to the soul, and the meaning is eternal. 

Some people make a cult of the Book of Common Prayer, but that is not necessary. In Stogumber we use the Book of Common Prayer simply because its beauty lifts our minds out of ordinariness, and helps us to recognise unchanging truths. Here are a couple of examples:

Collect for Grace (from Morning Prayer):
O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Peace (from Evening Prayer):
O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.