Francis Procter (21 June 1812 – 24 August 1905) was an EnglishAnglican clergyman andliturgist known for his history of theBook of Common Prayer, the officialliturgical book of theChurch of England. HisA History of the Book of Common Prayer, with a Rationale of its Offices was first published in 1855. A revision of this book first released in 1901 byWalter Frere–known as "Procter and Frere"–became a leading academic history of Anglican liturgy. Procter also produced other works, including an edition of theSarumbreviary first published in 1875. During his career, Procter was afellow atSt Catharine's College, Cambridge, and a minister at several English parishes.
Francis Procter was born on 21 June 1812 inHackney, London, to Francis–a warehouse worker inManchester–and Mary Procter. He was his parents' only son. Due to poor health, Procter spent several years of his childhood at thevicarage of his uncle, Payler Procter, inNewland, Gloucestershire. He began attendingShrewsbury School underSamuel Butler in 1825. He became a student atSt Catharine's College of theUniversity of Cambridge in 1831. Another of Procter's uncles,Joseph Procter,[note 1] was the college'smaster. Francis Procter graduated in 1835 with aBA; he was ranked 30thwrangler and, in theClassical Tripos, eleventh in the second class.[2]
Procter wasordained adeacon in 1836 in theDiocese of Lincoln of theChurch of England. He was ordained a priest in 1838 in theDiocese of Ely. He served ascurate at two parishes: theChurch of St Margaret, Streatley, Bedfordshire (1836–1840) andRomsey Abbey (1840–1842). In 1842, he left parochial ministry and served as afellow and assistant tutor at his former college of St Catharine's, a position he remained at until 1847. That year, he becameVicar atWitton inNorfolk, where he remained for the rest of his life.[2]
In 1855, Procter'sA History of the Book of Common Prayer, with a Rationale of its Offices was first published. A history of theChurch of England's officialliturgical book, theBook of Common Prayer, Procter produced further editions that reflected the development ofliturgical scholarship. According to liturgical historianWalter Frere, the textbook was in the academic tradition ofCharles Wheatly's "sound exposition".[2] Again published in 1889, the book contained what historianStanley Morison called a "valuable" summary of service books from before theReformation.[3]
This book was revised and expanded by Frere with Procter's approval in 1901.[3]: 82 The expanded version, entitledA New History of the Book of Common Prayer, was part of a number of similar early 20th-century historical studies by members of theAlcuin Club which also includedF. E. Brightman'sThe English Rite.[4]: 9–11, 213–214 Also commonly known as "Procter and Frere", the 1901 revision (and minor revisions thereof) was considered "the standard history" of Anglican history until the release ofGeoffrey Cuming'sA History of Anglican Liturgy in 1969.[5][6][7][note 2]
Procter was among several 19th-century liturgical historians who were interested in the medievalbreviary, a liturgical book containing the prayers of theDivine Office. Procter, jointly editing with liturgistChristopher Wordsworth and the assistance of others includingHenry Bradshaw, published the first volume of their breviary in 1879 according to theUse of Sarum based on a 1531 edition printed in Paris.[2] Procter and Wordsworth were leaders of a group of historians investigating English breviaries and their variations. The second and third volumes of their reprinted Sarum breviary were published in 1882 and 1886, respectively.[3]: 81 [note 3]
Francis Procter married Margaret in 1848; she was the daughter of Thomas Meryon ofRye, Sussex. Together, the couple had eight children: five sons and three daughters. Procter died on 24 August 1905 in Witton and was buried in the parish's churchyard.[2]
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