Anglican Daily Office — A Recommendation

A few years ago, pre-Covid, I began a podcast of the Daily Office, as given in the 1928 (US) BCP. In May of 2021 (during Covid-tide), I encountered an article by Father Martin Thornton about the Office. You can hear his thoughts here, or read them for yourself here. I found his suggestions compelling, especially as I have frequently heard others, especially laymen, lamenting that they would like to pray the Daily Office but found it too long to fit into their workdays. After considerable prayer and contemplation, I have come to agree with Fr. Thornton, and so I began praying the office following his recommendations. Not long ago, I removed all the instances in my Anglican Daily Office podcast that preceded this “conversion,” if you will, and going forward I continue his practice.

Please note, that Fr. Thornton’s recommendations do not follow the rubrics of the prayerbook, any prayerbook, so if you are canonically bound to pray the office, as most clergy are, this shortened version may not meet your obligation, unless, of course, you obtain the permission of your bishop. Nevertheless, I began offering this shortened office on my Anglican Daily Office podcast.

In this podcast, I began with the office as is customarily prayed in the Anglican tradition (see my “Best Practices” post below), then I applied Fr. Thornton’s recommendations. I invite you to listen to it and offer comments.

Fr. Richard.