William Sydnor was an Episcopal priest and a long-time rector of Christ Church in Alexandria, VA. He is the author of The Prayer Book Through the Ages and Looking at the Episcopal Church. He died in 2000.

"A lucid, informative, and engaging history, The Prayer Book Through the Ages is further enhanced for the serious student with extensive chapter notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index." --The Midwest Book Review". . . a comprehensive overview of the liturgical history of the BCP through the adoption of the 1979 edition . . . This would make a useful addition to catechism classes (and probably ought to be read by every Episcopalian who wants to know the basics about the central nonbiblical text of our communion)."--Kenneth Arnold, The Episcopal New Yorker