Each of Austen’s prayers is roughly thirteen sentences long and is written in the beautiful and elaborate style of the BCP prayers. The BCP contains prayers for Sunday services, special services, and morning and evening prayers. She would have grown up hearing the prayers in it at church services and likely during morning and evening prayers at home. It is possible that her prayers could have been shared during these gatherings.Īusten’s prayers closely echo the prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer ( BCP ), the liturgy of the Anglican Church. While we don’t know the exact details of what their devotions entailed, Austen wrote the following to Cassandra in a letter: “In the evening we had the Psalms and Lessons, and a sermon at home” (Austen Letters ).

Before going to bed, they also had family prayers. In the evening, the Austen family often enjoyed reading together from novels, poetry, and sermons, as well as from the delightful pieces that Jane wrote. There is something in a chapel and chaplain so much in character with a great house, with one’s ideas of what such a household should be! A whole family assembling regularly for the purpose of prayer, is fine!” ( MP 86) “It is a pity,” cried Fanny, “that the custom should have been discontinued. In particular, Fanny comments on the habit of daily prayer being given up by families: In Mansfield Park, however, matters relating to religious activity and the clergy are discussed in more detail.

Elton-are not the most exemplary representatives of the church). With the exception of Mansfield Park, Austen doesn’t openly discuss matters of faith in her novels, even though they all include characters who are clergyman (some of whom-think Mr. It does not appear that she went through the rituals of the Church of England out of mere duty. Austen’s letters and prayers suggest that she, too, was quite devout in her faith.

By all accounts, the Reverend Austen took his role as the spiritual leader of his parish seriously and was a devout and capable clergyman. Image Rachel Dodge.Īusten’s father, the Reverend George Austen, was an Anglican clergyman, and religion played a large and important role in their family life.

Jane Austen's Letters by Jane Austen