In many times and places, daybreak has been a time of prayer. Jews prayed in their synagogues at sunrise as well as at other times each day. This Jewish pattern of prayer formed the basis of the Christian monastic Daily Office, with its prayers or “hours” at seven times in each day. 

Thomas Cranmer’s revision of the Daily Office for the first English Prayer Book (1549) reduced the number of services to two-one for morning (Matins) and one for evening (Evensong). In the Second English Prayer Book (1552), the morning service was given its present name, Morning Prayer. 

Many elements of Morning Prayer come from the monastic hours of matins (e.g., Venite and Te Deum), lauds (e.g., Benedicte, omnia opera Domini, a “chapter” of scripture, Benedictus Dominus Deus, collect of the day), and Prime (e.g., a second “chapter” of scripture and the Apostles’ Creed).

Psalms were recited at every one of the offices, with the whole Psalter recited once a week. In the 1549 BCP, psalms were read at both Morning and Evening Prayer, with the whole Psalter read “in course” once each month. In subsequent Prayer Book revisions, psalms have come to be used more selectively, although a monthly cycle of psalms read “in course” is still provided as an option. 

The Typical Order of Service:

Processional
General Confession 

The Lord’s Prayer 

The Venite 

Psalm 

First Lesson 

Te Deum 

Second Lesson 

Jubilate Deo 

The Apostles Creed

Collect for the Day 

Collects and Prayers 

General Thanksgiving 
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

The Grace