Item 2 - St. Peter's Cathedral Church Altar Service Book

• Textual record

1 altar book, 38.5 x 26 cm, 1 handwritten note, 1 piece of string

The altar box, discovered behind the altar in All Souls' Chapel in 2018, contained the altar service book as well as some notes, pamphlets, and other documents. The documents and pamphlets were not unique to the altar box and were added to appropriate other series within the St. Peter's Cathedral Church archives. The remaining items -- the altar service book, enclosed note, and string, were retained as part of this accession.

The Altar Service Book, published in 1867, is a 38 x 26 x 3.5 bound book, edited by the Reverend Frederick George Lee, DCL, FSA (1832–1902), a theological writer born at Thame, Oxfordshire, who was ordained deacon by the bishop of Oxford in 1854 and priest in 1856.

The full title of the publication is: Altar Service Book, According to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland/ The Order for the Administration of the Holy Communion, to which are Prefixed the Tables of Feasts and Fasts, and Kalendar, with the Collects, Epistles and Gospels, to be used throughout the year; Also the order for Confirmation of Children, and the Form for the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony; Together with the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, According to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland. With the Ancient Plain Song for the Holy Communion. The publication is apparently three volumes but there is only one volume in this accession.

Included with the book is a note, by James Simpson, from sometime after September 1918, reading "This book was used in the Altar of St. Peter's Cathedral from the early days of the church until September 1918." As well, a piece of string has been retained: it is presumably the string used to tie the book during its use.