The Italian Editions of the Book of Common Prayer Published in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

As a result of political events in Italy—first the election of Pope Pius IX and then the political unification movement—both the English political and religious elite and English public opinion became convinced that the Risorgimento would also inevitably lead to religious reform. This prompted the SPCK to promote multiple re-editions of Nott’s text (in 1841, 1848, and 1849), which was revised by several Italian religious and political exiles in England. In 1850, the Welshman Thomas Sims reprinted Nott’s edition for circulation in the Waldensian valleys. Sims was convinced that the Waldensian Church could become the base from which to launch a missionary offensive against Italy. However, in preparation for this task Sims felt that the Waldenses first had to adopt the Church of England as a model, in terms of both organizational structure and liturgy. This attempt contributed to the growing British interest in the Waldenses.