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Evelyn Underhill's Prayer Book
'Carefully edited, this beautiful little volume is a rare gem . . . highly recommended for anyone seeking new inspiration in prayer.' The Reader
Between 1924 and 1938, Evelyn Underhill compiled two personal prayer books for use when conducting spiritual retreats at Pleshey (the retreat house for the diocese of Chelmsford). The prayers were carefully selected and include quotes from a variety of theologians and writers in Christian spirituality, as well as her own very rich, metaphorical and theologically deep prayers.
These collections are now available for the first time.
Between 1924 and 1938, Evelyn Underhill compiled two personal prayer books for use when conducting spiritual retreats at Pleshey (the retreat house for the diocese of Chelmsford). The prayers were carefully selected and include quotes from a variety of theologians and writers in Christian spirituality, as well as her own very rich, metaphorical and theologically deep prayers.
These collections are now available for the first time.
136 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2018
73 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Underhill
273 books165 followersEvelyn Underhill was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism.
In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the twentieth century. No other book of its type—until the appearance in 1946 of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy—met with success to match that of her best-known work, Mysticism, published in 1911.
Read more:
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_U...
The Evelyn Underhill Association
http://www.evelynunderhill.org/
In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the twentieth century. No other book of its type—until the appearance in 1946 of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy—met with success to match that of her best-known work, Mysticism, published in 1911.
Read more:
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_U...
The Evelyn Underhill Association
http://www.evelynunderhill.org/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2019
Excellent
I was searching for a book of prayers to aid me in the practice of prayer. I have been intentionally gravitating away from religious prayers with a demonic undertone. I have no interest in talking to and about demons while praying to God and I realize that is how we were taught growing up in church. This book really made such a difference as I would pray the prayers when I awoke in the mornings.
I was searching for a book of prayers to aid me in the practice of prayer. I have been intentionally gravitating away from religious prayers with a demonic undertone. I have no interest in talking to and about demons while praying to God and I realize that is how we were taught growing up in church. This book really made such a difference as I would pray the prayers when I awoke in the mornings.
June 19, 2018
Having done my Master's thesis on her work, I was delighted to learn that at long last her personal prayerbook had been discovered and published. In many ways, Underhill is my mentor in the spiritual life.
This is a priceless volume.
This is a priceless volume.
October 25, 2024
Summary: Prayers compiled in two books by Evelyn Underhill for retreats she conducted, edited into a compact edition.
Evelyn Underhill was an Anglo-Catholic who wrote extensively on mysticism and the spiritual life. Her favorite retreat site was Pleshey and in the 1920’s and 1930’s she conducted a number of retreats there. As part of her preparation, from the years of 1924 to 1938, she compiled two handwritten books of prayers for her use as she led prayers.
These books disappeared after her death. Then Underhill scholar Robyn Wrigley-Carr came across a leather bound volume of handwritten prayers during a visit at Pleshey in 2016. What she had discovered was the second of the two books, consisting of prayers compiled between 1929 and 1938. Returning to check her copy against the original, she discovered that the first volume had been found, with prayers from 1924-1928. This led to her creating a single volume edition, preserving the numbering and index system created by Underhill.
Underhill draws many of the prayers from spiritual writers from the third to twentieth century. In the introduction, Wrigley-Carr notes the influence of Friedrich von Hugel on Underhill, particularly in the writers he recommended. As a result, her prayers draw on these writers.. Wrigley-Carr includes a list by century in the introduction and offers brief author biographies in the back by order of their appearance. Examples of writer range from Augustine to AEthelwold of Winchester, John Donne, John Henry Newman, and Christina Rosetti.
In addition, Underhill wrote many of the prayers herself, especially in the second part of the work, beginning with prayer number 68. Names of authors appear after their prayers. However prayers without attribution are Underhill’s. She also draws from various church liturgies including the Book of Common Prayer.
The prayers cover a wide range of subjects, from praise of God to consecration of oneself to intercession for others, including the ill, the dying, and our communion with the saints in glory. An index combining the two volumes, following Underhill’s indexing, appears in the after matter.
The work serves as a wonderful introduction to the prayers of great spiritual writers through the ages. It was a delight to encounter the prayers of Launcelot Andrews. For example, this Benediction:
The power of the Father guide and guard us.
The wisdom of the Son, enlighten us.
The working of the Spirit, quicken us.
Guard our souls. Strengthen our bodies.
Our senses, refine; our conduct correct; our characters, set in tune.
Bless our actions; perfect our prayers; breath into us holy thoughts.
Our sins that are past, forgive, our present sins, amend, and future sins, prevent.
Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, far beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us: to him be glory in the Church in Christ unto all generations.
Likewise, I found Underhill’s prayers equally rich. For instance consider this prayer of consecration (#131):
O blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who bid your disciples stand with their loins gird and their lamps burning, be with us at this hour. Here we dedicate ourselves to you anew. Help us to run the race that is set before us with redoubled vigour and fresh vision. Teach us how to trim our lamps that they may not burn dim. Guide us to the constant recollection that the candle of the Lord is the Spirit of humanity. And by Your risen power, make us a power for you in this place, for Your own name’s sake.
This is a treasure rediscovered. Certainly, this is a wonderful resource for our personal life of prayer. We often grope for words to express our heart’s longings. Likewise, this book, so compact, makes a wonderful resource to take on retreat. Finally, retreat leaders will find this a rich resource of prayers for retreatants as will those who plan worship services.
Evelyn Underhill was an Anglo-Catholic who wrote extensively on mysticism and the spiritual life. Her favorite retreat site was Pleshey and in the 1920’s and 1930’s she conducted a number of retreats there. As part of her preparation, from the years of 1924 to 1938, she compiled two handwritten books of prayers for her use as she led prayers.
These books disappeared after her death. Then Underhill scholar Robyn Wrigley-Carr came across a leather bound volume of handwritten prayers during a visit at Pleshey in 2016. What she had discovered was the second of the two books, consisting of prayers compiled between 1929 and 1938. Returning to check her copy against the original, she discovered that the first volume had been found, with prayers from 1924-1928. This led to her creating a single volume edition, preserving the numbering and index system created by Underhill.
Underhill draws many of the prayers from spiritual writers from the third to twentieth century. In the introduction, Wrigley-Carr notes the influence of Friedrich von Hugel on Underhill, particularly in the writers he recommended. As a result, her prayers draw on these writers.. Wrigley-Carr includes a list by century in the introduction and offers brief author biographies in the back by order of their appearance. Examples of writer range from Augustine to AEthelwold of Winchester, John Donne, John Henry Newman, and Christina Rosetti.
In addition, Underhill wrote many of the prayers herself, especially in the second part of the work, beginning with prayer number 68. Names of authors appear after their prayers. However prayers without attribution are Underhill’s. She also draws from various church liturgies including the Book of Common Prayer.
The prayers cover a wide range of subjects, from praise of God to consecration of oneself to intercession for others, including the ill, the dying, and our communion with the saints in glory. An index combining the two volumes, following Underhill’s indexing, appears in the after matter.
The work serves as a wonderful introduction to the prayers of great spiritual writers through the ages. It was a delight to encounter the prayers of Launcelot Andrews. For example, this Benediction:
The power of the Father guide and guard us.
The wisdom of the Son, enlighten us.
The working of the Spirit, quicken us.
Guard our souls. Strengthen our bodies.
Our senses, refine; our conduct correct; our characters, set in tune.
Bless our actions; perfect our prayers; breath into us holy thoughts.
Our sins that are past, forgive, our present sins, amend, and future sins, prevent.
Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, far beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us: to him be glory in the Church in Christ unto all generations.
Likewise, I found Underhill’s prayers equally rich. For instance consider this prayer of consecration (#131):
O blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who bid your disciples stand with their loins gird and their lamps burning, be with us at this hour. Here we dedicate ourselves to you anew. Help us to run the race that is set before us with redoubled vigour and fresh vision. Teach us how to trim our lamps that they may not burn dim. Guide us to the constant recollection that the candle of the Lord is the Spirit of humanity. And by Your risen power, make us a power for you in this place, for Your own name’s sake.
This is a treasure rediscovered. Certainly, this is a wonderful resource for our personal life of prayer. We often grope for words to express our heart’s longings. Likewise, this book, so compact, makes a wonderful resource to take on retreat. Finally, retreat leaders will find this a rich resource of prayers for retreatants as will those who plan worship services.
September 24, 2024
Evelyn Underhill was a spiritual director and retreat leader in the 1930s at a time when such roles were usually reserved for men. She was formidable in her output, making waves in the earlier part of the 20th century with her book Mysticism, and then many publications after that.
I've ended up reading quite a few of her books over the last few years, and something keeps drawing me back to her work.
This particular book is based on two rediscovered hand-written prayer books that she created and used as a retreat leader at Pleshy in Chelmsford, Essex (the retreat house is still in operation... yet another thing to add to my 'one day, in the UK' list).
The book is edited by Robyn Wrigley-Carr of Alphacrucis College - cool to see an Australasian connection. Foreword by some bloke called Eugene Peterson.
There are 160 prayers, and I used it over the course of about five months... good as grounding material for a prayer practice.
For me it came alive a bit more in the second half (the second book of prayers) - not sure why... maybe as Underhill got into her stride as a director and her own spirituality evolved.
I see at the end, the editor mentions that she modernised the language. I was a bit disappointed by that - though I might be in the minority. From a literary point of view, I like the older forms of language and I know that Underhill was committed to the craft of writing, so I have a hunch that her language was intentional. Also, as this was the first and maybe only edition of the prayer book to be published, it might have been nice to preserve the historicity of the text.
On the flipside, the intention was obviously to try and find a balance, but aim to make the book as relevant and accessible to contemporary readers as possible; thereby maintaining the work as a useful and living document, rather than just a historical artifact. So that's a good thing. Underhill was committed to communicating about spirituality to everyday, contemporary people.
I'm glad this book has been found, preserved and reinvigorated through publication, and grateful for the role it, and Evelyn Underhill, have played in my life.
I've ended up reading quite a few of her books over the last few years, and something keeps drawing me back to her work.
This particular book is based on two rediscovered hand-written prayer books that she created and used as a retreat leader at Pleshy in Chelmsford, Essex (the retreat house is still in operation... yet another thing to add to my 'one day, in the UK' list).
The book is edited by Robyn Wrigley-Carr of Alphacrucis College - cool to see an Australasian connection. Foreword by some bloke called Eugene Peterson.
There are 160 prayers, and I used it over the course of about five months... good as grounding material for a prayer practice.
For me it came alive a bit more in the second half (the second book of prayers) - not sure why... maybe as Underhill got into her stride as a director and her own spirituality evolved.
I see at the end, the editor mentions that she modernised the language. I was a bit disappointed by that - though I might be in the minority. From a literary point of view, I like the older forms of language and I know that Underhill was committed to the craft of writing, so I have a hunch that her language was intentional. Also, as this was the first and maybe only edition of the prayer book to be published, it might have been nice to preserve the historicity of the text.
On the flipside, the intention was obviously to try and find a balance, but aim to make the book as relevant and accessible to contemporary readers as possible; thereby maintaining the work as a useful and living document, rather than just a historical artifact. So that's a good thing. Underhill was committed to communicating about spirituality to everyday, contemporary people.
I'm glad this book has been found, preserved and reinvigorated through publication, and grateful for the role it, and Evelyn Underhill, have played in my life.
May 27, 2024
The prayers come from all sorts of sources which it is interesting to read in the notes. For me the foreword by Eugene Peterson was worth the price of getting this book. I will probably not use this book too often but I will refer to it often to go back to the source where Evelyn Underhill found the prayer.
July 18, 2018
Solid content, but poor editorial execution. If you're an Underhill fan, you'll want to read it. If you're not, make sure you're a fan of prayer-book style prayers first.
You can see my full review here: http://www.transpositions.co.uk/revie...
You can see my full review here: http://www.transpositions.co.uk/revie...
September 18, 2023
“Open my eyes, O Lord, that we may learn to know You in Your humble loveliness and discover You in the sanctifying prose of daily duty. For there, You do truly dwell; it is in this simple duty, whatever may be its form, that we are sure to meet You.”
March 17, 2018
A fascinating back story to the discovery of this asset and a volume packed with gold.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews