The Book of Common Prayer is a volume that contains the core worship and devotional texts of The Episcopal Church, along with other important resources. The word “common” in the title does not mean “ordinary” but “enjoyed by all.” Each church in the Anglican tradition worships according to a book of common prayer, which provides them with a basic sense of unity even while allowing a wide spectrum of liturgical form and expression. From time to time, many Anglican churches produce new versions of their prayer books. First published in 1789, the current version of the Book of Common Prayer used by The Episcopal Church was approved in 1979.