The Rev. Canon Charles Mortimer Guilbert, custodian of the Book of Common Prayer for 35 years, died April 3 in Beaverton, OR. He was 89. Fr. Guilbert was chairman of the Standing Liturgical Commission, which produced the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, he grew up in Chicago, and graduated from the University of Chicago and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He was ordained deacon in 1936 and priest in 1937. He was vicar of Trinity, Ashland, OR, 1937-40, vicar of St. James', Coquille, and St. John's, Brandon, OR, 1940-43; dean of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Portland, OR, 1943-49; canon of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, 1949-56; rector of St. Clement's, Berkeley, CA, 1957-61, and served at national church headquarters from 1961 until his retirement in 1975. He was appointed custodian of the prayer book in 1963 and retained the title until his death. He also served as secretary of the House of Deputies of General Convention, was a frequent deputy to General Convention, secretary of Province 8, a member of the Church Historical Society and its president for a time. He is survived by a son, Thomas, of Portland, a sister, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.