The Form of Consecration of a
Church or Chapel
¶ The following Office may be used with the Order for the Holy Communion,
or at Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer, or separately.
& The Bishop is to be received at the entrance of the Church, or Chapel,
by the Church-wardens and Vestrymen, or some other persons appointed
for that purpose. The Bishop and the Clergy who are present
shall go up the aisle of the Church, or Chapel, to the Holy Table, repeating
the following Psalm alternately, the Bishop one verse and the
Clergy another.
Domini est terra. Psalm xxiv. THE earth is the Lord’s, and all that therein is; * the
compass of the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, * and
stablished it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? * or who
shall rise up in his holy place?
4 Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; * and
that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive
his neighbour.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, * and
righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him; * even
of them that seek thy face, O Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? * It is the Lord strong and
mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? * Even the Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
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Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the
Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.
¶ The Bishop shall go within the rails, with such of the Clergy as can
be there accommodated. The Bishop, sitting in his chair, shall have the
instruments of Donation and Endowment, if there be any, presented
to him; and then standing up, and turning to the Congregation, he
shall say,
DEARLY beloved in the Lord; forasmuch as devout
and holy men, as well under the Law as under the
Gospel, moved either by the express command of God, or
by the secret inspiration of the blessed Spirit, and acting
agreeably to their own reason and sense of the natural decency
of things, have erected houses for the public worship
of God, and separated them from all unhallowed, worldly,
and common uses, in order to fill men’s minds with greater
reverence for his glorious Majesty, and affect their hearts
with more devotion and humility in his service; which pious
works have been approved of and graciously accepted by
our heavenly Father; Let us not doubt but that he will also
favourably approve our godly purpose of setting apart this
place in solemn manner, for the several Offices of religious
worship, and let us faithfully and devoutly beg his blessing
on this our undertaking.
¶ Then the Bishop, kneeling, shall say the following Prayer.
O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, and of majesty incomprehensible,
whom the heaven of heavens cannot
contain, much less the walls of temples made with
hands; and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise
thy especial presence, wherever two or three of thy
faithful servants shall assemble in thy Name, to offer up
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their praises and supplications unto thee; Vouchsafe, O
Lord, to be present with us, who are here gathered together
with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate
this place to the honour of thy great Name; separating
it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary, and common
uses; and dedicating it to thy service, for reading thy
holy Word, for celebrating thy holy Sacraments, for offering
to thy glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer and
thanksgiving, for blessing thy people in thy Name, and for
all other holy offices: accept, O Lord, this service at our
hands, and bless it with such success as may tend most to
thy glory, and the furtherance of our happiness both temporal
and spiritual; through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord
and Saviour. Amen.
& After this the Bishop shall stand up, and turning his face towards the
Congregation, shall say,
REGARD, O Lord, the supplications of thy servants, and
grant that whosoever in this house shall be received
by Baptism into the congregation of Christ’s flock, may be
sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and may continue Christ’s
faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that they who at this place shall in
their own persons renew the promises and vows
of their Baptism, and be Confirmed by the Bishop, may
receive such a measure of thy Holy Spirit, that they may
grow in grace unto their life’s end. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this
place the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood
of Christ, may come to that holy ordinance with faith,
charity, and true repentance; and being filled with thy
grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their great and
endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all
other benefits of his passion. Amen.
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GRANT, O Lord, that by thy holy Word which shall
be read and preached in this place, and by thy Holy
Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof
may both perceive and know what things they ought to
do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same.
Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be joined together
in this place in the holy estate of Matrimony,
may faithfully perform and keep the vow and covenant
betwixt them made, and may remain in perfect love together
unto their life’s end. Amen.
GRANT, we beseech thee, blessed Lord, that whosoever
shall draw near to thee in this place, to give thee
thanks for the benefits which they have received at thy
hands, to set forth thy most worthy praise, to confess their
sins unto thee, and to ask such things as are requisite and
necessary, as well for the body as for the soul, may do it
with such steadiness of faith, and with such seriousness,
affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept
their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to give
whatever in thy infinite wisdom thou shalt see to be most
expedient for them. All which we beg for Jesus Christ’s
sake, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
& Then, the Bishop sitting in his chair, the Sentence of Consecration is
to be read by some person appointed by him, and then laid by him
upon the Communion Table; after which, the Bishop shall say,
BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord, that it hath pleased
thee to put it into the hearts of thy servants to appropriate
and devote this house to thy honour and worship;
and grant that all who shall enjoy the benefit of this
pious work, may show forth their thankfulness, by making
a right use of it, to the glory of thy blessed Name; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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& When there is a Communion, the following shall be the Collect, Epistle,
and Gospel.
The Collect.
O MOST glorious God, whom the heaven of heavens
cannot contain; Graciously accept the Dedication of
this place to thy service; and grant that all who shall call
upon thee here may worship thee in spirit and in truth,
and may in their lives show forth thy praise; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Epistle. Revelation xxi. 2.
AND I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold,
I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for
these words are true and faithful.
The Gospel. St. John ii. 13.
AND the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold
oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he
drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the
oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew
the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these
things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of
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merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was
written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
¶ And immediately before the final Blessing, the Bishop shall say this
Prayer.
BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord God, for that it hath
pleased thee to have thy habitation among the sons of
men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of the saints
upon the earth; Grant, we beseech thee, that in this place
now set apart to thy service, thy holy Name may be worshipped
in truth and purity through all generations; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep
your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of
God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the Blessing
of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.
THE FORM OF CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH OR CHAPEL
