Almighty and everliving God,
who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us
to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks,
for all men:
We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to receive
these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty;
beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church
with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord:
And grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name
may agree in the truth of thy holy Word,
and live in unity and godly love.
We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings,
Princes, and Governors;
and specially thy servant our King,
that under him we may be godly and quietly governed:
And grant unto his whole Council,
and to all that are put in authority under him,
that they may truly and indifferently minister justice,
to the punishment of wickedness and vice,
and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates,
that they may both by their life and doctrine
set forth thy true and lively Word,
and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.
And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace;
and specially to this congregation here present;
that, with meek heart and due reverence,
they may hear and receive thy holy Word;
truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness
all the days of their life.
And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord,
to comfort and succour all them,
who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness,
or any other adversity.
And we also bless thy holy Name
for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear;
beseeching thee to give us grace
so to follow their good examples,
that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom:
Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake,
our only Mediator and Advocate.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Whole State of Christ's Church
Also known as Prayer for the Church Militant ยท BCP Prayer of Intercession
About this prayer
The Prayer for the Whole State of Christ's Church is the great prayer of intercession in the Anglican Communion service, said after the Offertory. It is one of the longest prayers in the Book of Common Prayer and covers the full range of intercessory prayer: for the Church, for civil rulers, for clergy, for the congregation, and for the dead. The original 1549 form, composed by Thomas Cranmer, included prayer for the dead; this was removed in the 1552 revision under pressure from Reformed theology, which rejected prayers for the dead. The 1662 form retains the 1552 structure without prayer for the dead. The prayer is addressed 'for the Church militant here on earth,' distinguishing the living Church from the Church triumphant of those who have died.
When it's said
This prayer is said at every Communion service in the Book of Common Prayer, after the Offertory and before the Communion itself. It is one of the few prayers in the BCP that covers intercession for the universal Church, civil authorities, clergy, and those in need in a single sustained prayer. In many Anglican parishes it is also adapted for use at Morning and Evening Prayer.
Notes on the text
The reference to 'all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors' and specifically 'thy servant our King' reflects the original context of an established church praying for the monarch. In modern Anglican use, the prayer is typically adapted to refer to the sovereign and other authorities by name. The closing prayer for 'all thy servants departed this life' stops short of praying for the dead in the traditional sense, asking instead for grace to follow their examples.
Composed by Thomas Cranmer for the Book of Common Prayer, 1549; revised 1552 and 1662. Text from the Book of Common Prayer, 1662. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.