The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church
According to the Use of the Church of England published by Henry Hills in 1731 is an edition of the Anglican liturgical text, specifically based on the 1662 version, which remains the official prayer book of the Church of England. Henry Hills was a notable printer in London, and his 1731 edition would have included the standard services for daily worship, such as Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, Holy Communion, and occasional services like Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Burial, along with the Psalter (Psalms of David) and other liturgical elements like collects and readings for the church year.
This edition reflects the post-Restoration Anglican tradition after the English Civil War, with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer being the standard following revisions to earlier versions (1549, 1552, 1559). It would likely feature the full title as noted in historical records, including the Psalter “pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches” and the ordinal for ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons. Hills’ printing would have been authorized, as indicated by references to similar editions (e.g., the 1713 edition by John Baskett and Hills’ assigns), often bearing the note “Cum privilegio” (with privilege, signifying royal approval).
No specific details distinguish the 1731 Hills edition from other 1662-based editions in terms of textual changes, but it would have been formatted for use by both clergy and laity, emphasizing accessibility in English, a hallmark of the Reformation’s liturgical shift from Latin. Physical copies from this period, often bound in calf or similar materials, sometimes show wear or decorative stamps, as seen in descriptions of comparable prayer books. If you’re seeking unique features of this specific edition (e.g., binding, marginalia, or textual variations), further details from a rare book catalog or archive like the HathiTrust or British Library would be needed.
