What is an External Solemnity?

An “external solemnity” is the celebration of a feast outside (external) its actual date to the following Sunday where “a greater proportion of the people will thereby be encouraged and enabled to keep the feast with increased fervor and devotion” (Ritual Notes, 11th ed., 272). The Book of Common Prayer allows that “All Saints’ Day may always be observed on the Sunday following November 1, in addition to its observance on the fixed date” (BCP, 15). The offices of Morning and Prayer are not of the transferred feast. For instance, Evensong will be for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost and not All Saints’ Day.