ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the potential of liturgical rites as sources, some practical ways in which one can work with this material, some problems that are likely to be encountered, and some possible directions for research. However, new rites were created - sometimes surprisingly late - and the process can sometimes be recovered and be of considerable historical interest. Greater attention to evidence for moments of decision making in the process of putting together a text would be instructive. Canterbury Cathedral in the central middle Ages is one place where it is possible to do this for rites, and some research has demonstrated the potential of the material, but more could be done. Work on performance practices, and the relationship between written texts and actual performances, provides very close parallels with the problems faced by liturgical historians.
