Commontide
The Ordination of a Deacon
Almighty God, by your divine providence you appointed various Orders of Ministers in your Church, and you inspired your Apostles to appoint to the Order of Deacons the first martyr Stephen, with others: mercifully behold these your servants now called to the same office and administration; so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and adorn them with holiness of life, that by word and good example they may faithfully serve you in this office, to the glory of your Name and the edification of your Church; through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.
This prayer, asked by the bishop just before a new deacon is ordained, goes all the way back to 1550, the first year the Church of England had an ordination service in English. Thomas Cranmer wrote it fresh for that occasion, and it has been prayed at almost every English-speaking deacon's ordination ever since, right down to the version in today's ACNA prayer book.