ST EDMUND THE KING, NORTHWOOD HILLS ARCHIVE SEP 2015-AUG 2016

The articles below are taken from my monthly columns in St Edmund's Church parish magazine ("The King"), which includes full details of my organ voluntaries for that month.



FROM THE CONSOLE - AUGUST 2016



This year marks the centenary of the hymn “Jerusalem”, which we sang at St Edmund’s at the culmination of our service in June to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

The music was written by Sir Hubert Parry in March 1916 for the “Fight for Right” movement. This was founded to bolster national morale at a time when there was so much bad news coming from the front during the First World War. It wanted to use music and the act of collective singing to help support this.

Robert Bridges, the Poet Laureate at the time, sent Parry the words to William Blake’s poem “Milton” and asked him to compose some music to accompany this. It was first performed at Queen’s Hall in London on March 28th 1916 and quickly grew in popularity. He later added an orchestral accompaniment (although the one arranged by Sir Edward Elgar in 1922 is nowadays more commonly used). Interestingly Parry wanted the first verse sung as a solo so that the impact of the full choir joining in for the second verse would be especially forceful and impressive.

Parry was a keen supporter of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage (NUWS) and “Jerusalem” became the Women Voter’s Hymn, assigning them copyright. After the NUWS disbanded, copyright was reassigned to the Women’s Institutes – who famously begin their meetings with the hymn – until it entered the public domain in 1968. It was first performed at the Last Night of the Proms in 1953 and has been sung every year since.

As a composer, Parry was a significant influence on Elgar, his junior by nine years. As Director of the Royal College of Music and Professor of Music at Oxford University, he exerted huge influence on younger composers such as Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bridge, Howells and Finzi.

I would like to place on record my thanks to the choirs of St Edmund’s and Bow Church who came together to give a memorable Choral Evensong on July 3rd. This was the result of many weeks rehearsing before the 10am service and it really paid off with some polished performances. Thanks too for the excellent tea provided by Hilda and Judith and to Steve for leading the service so well. It was good see a fair number in the congregation and we hope to do similar joint ventures in the future.

Aug 7th
10am Sung Eucharist – Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Celebrant: Father Tony Andrews, Preacher: Sarah Parnaby
Prelude –Andantino – E.Lemare
Setting: Wadeley (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus - W.A.Mozart
Processional: Great is thy faithfulness
1st Reading (Year C) - Genesis 15:1-6
Psalm (33): Happy are the people the Lord has chosen as his own
2nd Reading (Year C) - Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16
Gradual: Sing to God new songs of worship
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 12:49-56
Offertory: This is my body broken for you
Communion: Your gentleness O God of grace
Post-Communion: Christ triumphant ever reigning
Postlude – Prelude in C Minor – J.S.Bach

Aug 14th
10am Sung Eucharist – Twelfth Sunday after Trinity (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Graham Adamson
Prelude – Prelude (“The Dream of Gerontius”) – E.Elgar
Setting: Healey Willan (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: God is our hope and strength - J.S.Bach
Processional: Sing we of the Blessed Mother
1st Reading (Year C) - Jeremiah 23:23-29
Psalm (40): Lord come to my aid
2nd Reading (Year C) - Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Gradual: Her Virgin eyes saw God incarnate born
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 12:49-56
Offertory: Ye who own the faith of Jesus
Communion: For Mary Mother of the Lord
Post-Communion: Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord
Postlude – Prelude in A Minor – J.S.Bach

Aug 21st
10am Sung Eucharist – Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity (3.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Stuart Nattrass
Prelude – Apres un reve – G.Faure
Setting: Batten (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: O come ye servants of the Lord - C.Tye
Processional: Light of the minds that know him
1st Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm (117): Go out to the whole world, proclaim the good news
2nd Reading (Year C) - Hebrews 12:18-29
Gradual: Blest are the pure in heart
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 13:10-17
Offertory: O worship the King all glorious above
Communion: Soul of my saviour sanctify my breast
Post-Communion: Let all the world in every corner sing
Postlude –Songs of Praise – R.Prizeman

Aug 28th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity (2.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father John Spinks
Prelude – Salix – P.Whitlock
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: A Clare Benediction - J.Rutter
Processional: Thou whose almighty word
1st Reading (Year C) - Ecclesiasticus 10:12-18
Psalm (68): In your goodness O God you prepared a home for the poor
2nd Reading (Year C) - Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16
Gradual: Restore O Lord the honour of your name
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 14:1,7-14
Offertory: For the beauty of the earth
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: Through all the changing scenes of life
Postlude – Toccata – G.Mushel


FROM THE CONSOLE - JULY 2016



Choral Evensong is taking place at St Edmund’s at 6.30pm on July 3rd. It is hoped that several members of Frank Jacobs’ church choir in Bow will join us on that occasion. I wrote about that church in June 2014 and you can still read the article here

Richard Ayleward was born in Winchester in 1626, the son of a minor canon at the Cathedral. He was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Norwich Cathedral on two separate occasions between 1661 and his death in 1669. Ayleward’s output consists mainly of church music, of which the Preces and Responses are his best-known.

Thomas Attwood Walmisley (pictured) was born in London in 1814. He received musical tuition from his Godfather, Thomas Attwood. Attwood (who wrote “Come Holy Ghost” and “Teach me O Lord”, both often performed at St Edmund’s) was said to have been one of Mozart’s favourite pupils. At the age of 16 Walmisley was appointed organist of Croydon Parish Church and three years later went up to Cambridge, holding simultaneously the posts of organist at Trinity and St John’s. In 1836, at the age of just 22 and still an undergraduate, Walmisley was appointed Professor of Music. He was largely responsible for the revival of English church music in the period. His Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, written around 1855, is regarded as Wamisley’s masterpiece and is a highpoint of English Cathedral music. He suffered from bouts of depression and is said to have thrown the manuscript of the work into the wastepaper basket from where it was rescued by a friend. He also suffered from alcoholism which is believed to have led to his early death in 1856 at the age of just 41.

Henry Balfour Gardiner was born in London in 1877 and read music at New College, Oxford. His “Evening Hymn”, a setting of the Compline hymn “Te Lucis Ante Terminum” (To Thee before the close of day) was written in 1908 and is considered a classic of the English choral repertoire and is still regularly performed as an anthem at evensong in Anglican churches. Gardiner was instrumental in promoting the work of contemporary composers such as Bax, Holst and Vaughan Williams in a series of concerts at London’s Queens’ Hall, located near BBC’s Broadcasting House in Langham Place and destroyed by a German air raid in 1941. Gardiner was a self-critic who destroyed much of his output. For the last twenty years of his life he gave up composing and devoted himself to a pioneering afforestation programme on his Dorset pig farm. Henry was the great-uncle of the conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Giuseppe Pitoni was born in Rieti in 1657 and died in Rome in 1743. He spent the last sixty years of his life as maestro di cappella at the church of Saint Marco in Rome. He was an exceedingly prolific composer of church music and was greatly respected in Rome. His music is essentially Palestrinian in style although he incorporated some of the more modern features. His Cantate Domino is a setting of the first two verses of Psalm 149 - Sing to the Lord a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Jul 3rd
10am Sung Eucharist – Sixth Sunday after Trinity (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude – Villanella – J.Ireland
Setting: Oldroyd (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord that descendest - E.Gritton
Processional: New every morning is the love
1st Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 66:1-14
Psalm (66): Cry out with joy to God all the earth
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 6:7-16
Gradual: Let our choirs new anthems raise
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 10:1-11,16-20
Offertory: Ye Holy angels bright
Communion: Just as I am without one plea
Post-Communion: We have a gospel to proclaim
Postlude –Final – L.Boellmann

6.30pm Choral Evensong upon the Festival of St Thomas the Apostle
Prelude - Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 - H.Howells
Introit - Cantate Domino - G.Pitoni
Responses - Richard Ayleward
Psalm 150 (Stanford)
1st Lesson - Genesis 29:1-20
Office Hymn - We walk by faith, and not by sight
Magnificat - Walmisley in D Minor
2nd Lesson - John 20:24-30
Nunc Dimittis - Walmisley in D Minor
Anthem - Evening Hymn - H.Balfour Gardiner
Hymn - The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
Postlude - Toccata - E.Gigout

Jul 10th
10am Sung Eucharist – Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Graham Anderson
Setting: Heath in D
Anthem: These are they - J.Goss
Processional: Great is thy faithfulness
OT Reading (Year C) - Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Psalm (19): The precepts of the Lord gladden your heart
NT (Year C): Colossians 1:1-14
Gradual: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 10:25-37
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised
Communion: The Servant King
Post-Communion: God is working his purpose out

Jul 17th
10am Sung Eucharist – Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Stuart Nattrass
Setting: Heath in D
Anthem: Lead me Lord – S.S.Wesley
Processional: Hail Redeemer, King divine (King Divine)
OT Reading (Year C) - Genesis 18:1
Psalm (15): The just will live in the presence of the Lord (A.Gregory Murray)
NT (Year C): Colossians 1:15
Gradual: Lord thy word abideth (Ravenshaw)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 10:38
Offertory: Angel voices ever singing (Angel Voices)
Communion: Be thou my vision (Slane)
Post-Communion: Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

Jul 24th
10am Sung Eucharist – Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Paul Hullyer
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment - P.Aston
Processional: Jesus where’er thy people meet (Wareham)
OT Reading (Year C) - Genesis 18:20
Psalm (138): On the day I called, you answered me O Lord (Joan McCrimmon/A.Gregory Murray)
NT (Year C): Colossians 2:6
Gradual: Lord teach us how to pray aright (Martyrdom)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 11:1
Offertory: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol)
Communion: Father hear the prayer we offer (Sussex)
Post-Communion: Guide me O thou great redeemer (Cwm Rhondda)

Jul 31st
10am Sung Eucharist – Tenth Sunday after Trinity (3.0.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father John Spinks
Prelude – Dirge for Fidele - R.Vaughan Williams
Setting: Burton (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing - J.Rutter
Processional: Praise my soul the King of Heaven (Praise My Soul)
OT Reading (Year C) - Ecclesiastes 1:2
Psalm (95): O that today you would listen to his voice (A.Gregory Murray)
NT (Year C): Colossians 3:1
Gradual: Lead us Heavenly Father lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 12:13
Offertory: Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Communion: Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Post-Communion: Lord of all hopefulness (Slane)
Postlude – Prelude in B Minor - J.S.Bach


FROM THE CONSOLE - JUNE 2016



I am continuing my review of magazine articles with the year 2005. The full articles are still available online and can be found here.

I began the year with another crossword – Allan Whalley submitted the winning entry and he chose the postlude for the first Sunday in February – Siegfried Karg-Elert’s Chorale Prelude on “Nun Danket”. My columns from March until June were devoted to our school choir tour. We were joined by eleven other schools also dedicated to St Margaret of Scotland from as far afield as Australia and Chile. This choir of some 210 singers performed at the Chapel of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich before travelling north to Scotland where we performed at Dunfermline Abbey (Margaret's burial place) and at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. The final leg of the thirteen-day tour took us to York for a concert in the Minster. I wrote a summary of the tour in my May column and you can read a detailed version here. You can also hear our Greenwich performance here.

In July I wrote about our recent trip to Barcelona, including a visit to the impressive concert hall of the Palau de la Musica. The organ was originally built in 1908 but fell into disrepair in the 1970s and was only restored in 2003. An unusual feature is its ability to be played by remote control, as was demonstrated by our tour guide. Naturally we visited the Nou Camp, home to FC Barcelona and Europe’s largest football stadium. Later in the year we visited Rouen, which was the subject of my October article, including a visit to Monet’s wonderful gardens at Giverney.

In September I began an occasional series of articles on hymn writers, starting with Sydney Carter, who had died the previous year. Three of his hymns had appeared in a recent survey of the top ten modern school hymns - "One More Step along the world I go" was top, “Lord of the Dance” was 4th and "When I needed a neighbour" was 7th. In November I wrote about “Amazing Grace” author John Newton, one-time slave ship captain who in 1748 was caught in a terrible storm. He believed that God had saved him which led him to eventually become ordained.

My December article was on the subject of Good King Wenceslas. Wenceslas was a 10th Century Duke of Bohemia who was martyred by his brother for his Christian beliefs. In 1850, clergyman John Mason Neale included the Wenceslas legend as one of fifteen stories in his "Deeds of Faith - Stories for Children from Church History" and later wrote the poem we know today as "Good King Wenceslas". The tune was taken from a 16th Century Scandinavian song collection called "Piae Cantiones" ("Devout Songs").

On Sunday July 3rd at 6.30pm, the choir will be singing Choral Evensong with hymns and music by Giuseppe Pitoni, Richard Ayleward, Thomas Walmisley and Henry Balfour Gardiner. More details in next month’s magazine.

Jun 5th
10am Sung Eucharist – Second Sunday after Trinity (4.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude: Lied (24 Pieces) - L.Vierne
Setting: Healey Willan (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment - P.Aston
Processional: O Praise Ye the Lord
1st Reading (Year C) - 1 Kings 17:17-24
Psalm (30): I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 1:11-24
Gradual: Now is eternal life
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 7:11-17
Offertory: In Christ alone
Communion: There is a redeemer
Post-Communion: Blessed assurance
Postlude: Chorale Prelude on “Nun Danket” – S.Karg-Elert

Jun 12th
10am Sung Eucharist – Third Sunday after Trinity (4.1.1.1)
A Service in celebration of the Queen's 90th birthday
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude: Nimrod - E.Elgar
Setting: Rogers (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Teach me O Lord - T.Attwood
Processional: Lord for the years
1st Reading (Year C) - 2 Samuel 11:26-12, 12:10,13-15
Psalm (31): Forgive me Lord the guilt of my sin
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 2:15-21
Gradual: I vow to thee my country
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 7:36-8:3
Offertory: All people that on earth do dwell
Communion: The Servant King
Post-Communion: Jerusalem
Postlude: Orb and Sceptre - W.Walton

Jun 19th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fourth Sunday after Trinity (4.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Peter Tilley
Prelude: Berceuse - Ernest Tomlinson
Setting: Wadeley (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: The Call - R.Vaughan Williams
Processional: Dear Lord and Father of mankind
1st Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 65:1-9
Psalm (63): For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 3:23-29
Gradual: There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 8:26-39
Offertory: All my hope on God is founded
Communion: O thou who camest from above
Post-Communion: Forth in the peace of Christ we go
Postlude: Sonata No 4 (4th Movement) - F.Mendelssohn

Jun 26th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fifth Sunday after Trinity (1.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude: Nun Sei Willkommen Jesus Lieber Herr - Flor Peeters
Setting: Burton (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Cantate Domino - G.Pitoni
Processional: Longing for light, we wait in darkness
1st Reading (Year C) - 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21
Psalm (16): O Lord it is you who are my portion
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 5:1,13-25
Gradual: Thou art the Christ, O Lord
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 9:51-62
Offertory: Thy hand O God has guided
Communion: Lead us heavenly Father
Post-Communion: The Kingdom is upon you
Postlude: Praise The Lord O My Soul - S.Karg-Elert


FROM THE CONSOLE - MAY 2016



I am continuing my review of magazine articles with the year 2004. The full articles are still available online and can be found here.

January saw the first of several crosswords compiled over the years where the answers were taken from my articles over the previous twelve months. The answers appeared the following month.

In March I wrote the second of two layman’s guides to the organ (the first appeared in October 2003), focussing on the pipe lengths and stop types. The three colours of stops refer to flues (white – pipes which have no moving parts other than the flowing air), reeds (red – pipes with a vibrating tongue to produce the sound) and couplers (green – used to join together two sections of the organ).

Did you know that Handel once worked in Stanmore? My April article discussed this – he was in the employ of the Duke of Chandos at Cannons (on the site of the present North London Collegiate School). For the last thirty-five years of his life, Handel lived in a house just off New Bond Street which is now part of the Handel House Music (together with the neighbouring property which was home to Jimmy Hendrix).

Several Parisian churches visited during my travels and organists/composers associated with them were the subject of several articles. St Sulpice (June) is located on the left bank Latin Quarter where Louis Lefebure-Wely and Charles Widor were organists, the latter holding the post for sixty-three years. St Vincent de Paul (July) is located near to the Gare du Nord. Leon Boellmann – who wrote the Suite Gothique in 1895 – was organist there from 1881 until his untimely death in 1987 at the age of just 35. Olivier Messiaen was appointed organist at La Trinite (October) in 1931 at the age of just 22, a post he was to hold until his death over sixty years later. St Clothilde (October), near to the Musee d’Orsay, was home to Cesar Franck from 1857 until his death in 1890.

Other composers featured during the year were Henry Smart (March), Charles Stanford (May), William Boyce (September) and Sir Edward Elgar (November).

In December I wrote about one of my favourite Christmas Carols, “Bethlehem Down” by Peter Warlock. Born Philip Heseltine - his pseudonym reflected his interest in the occult - he wrote this beautiful piece in 1927. It won the Daily Telegraph’s annual carol-writing competition that year and he and poet Bruce Blunt used the winnings to finance an “immoral carouse”. Tragically Warlock took his own life three years later at the age of just 36. In 2011, art critic Brian Sewell claimed that he was Warlock’s illegitimate son, born seven months after the composer’s death.

May 1st
10am Sung Eucharist – Sixth Sunday of Easter (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude: Symphony No 5 (4th Movement) – C.Widor
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Cantate Domino - G.Pitoni
Processional: God is love: let heav’n adore him (Blaenwern)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 16:9
Psalm (67): Let the peoples praise you O God (Ian Forrester/Anne Ward)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Revelation 21:10
Gradual: O Love, how deep, how broad, how high! (Eisenach)
Gospel (Year C) - John 14:23
Offertory: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)
Communion: Now the green blade riseth (Noel Nouvelet)
Post-Communion: I danced in the morning
Postlude: Postlude in D Minor – C.Stanford

Thu May 5th
7.00pm Sung Eucharist – Ascension Day (3.0.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Aiden Smith
Prelude: Prière du Christ montant vers son Père (L’Ascension) – O.Messiaen
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: From the rising of the sun - Ouseley
Processional: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
1st Reading (Year C): Acts 1:1
Psalm (47): God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast (Stephen Dean)
2nd Reading (Year C): Ephesians 1:15
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Fintan O’Carroll)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 24:44
Offertory: Hail the day that sees Him rise (Llanfair)
Communion: Eternal Monarch, King most high (Gonfalon Royal)
Post-Communion: Rejoice the Lord is King (Gopsal, last v.John Marsh)
Postlude: Heut’ Triumphiret Gottes Sohn – J.S.Bach

May 8th
10am Sung Eucharist – Seventh Sunday after Easter (Sunday after Ascension Day) (5.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Neil Kelley
Prelude: Priere a Notre Dame (“Suite Gothique”) – L.Boellmann
Setting: Oldroyd (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Lead me Lord - S.S.Wesley
Processional: All hail the power of Jesu’s name (Miles Lane, last v.Andrew Moore)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 16:16
Psalm (97): The Lord is King, most high above all the earth (A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Revelation 22:12
Gradual: Hail the day that sees him rise (Llanfair, last v.Martin Setchell)
Gospel (Year C) - John 17:20
Offertory: Crown him with many crowns (Diademata, last v.Drew Tulloch)
Communion: The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus, last v.Norman Warren)
Post-Communion: At the name of Jesus (Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Postlude: Toccata (“Suite Gothique”) – L.Boellmann

May 15th
10am Sung Eucharist – Pentecost (Whit Sunday) (3.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father John Spinks
Prelude: Chanson de Matin – E.Elgar
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Come Holy Ghost - T.Attwood
Processional: The Spirit lives to set us free
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 2:1
Psalm (104): Send forth your Spirit O Lord (A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Romans 8:14
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Christopher Walker/Fintan O’Carroll)
Gospel (Year C) - John 14:8
Offertory: Come down, O Love divine (Down Ampney)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: Colours of day
Postlude: Sortie – L.Lefebure-Wely

May 22nd
10am Sung Eucharist – Trinity Sunday (4.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Knle Ayodeji
Prelude: Prelude in A – H.Smart
Setting: Darke in E (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Hymn to the Trinity - P.Tchaikovsky
Processional: Thou whose almighty word (Moscow, last v.Stanley Vann
1st Reading (Year C) - Proverbs 8:1
Psalm (8): How great is your name O Lord (Anthony Sharpe/A.Gregory Murray
2nd Reading (Year C) - Romans 5:1
Gradual: Father of heaven whose love profound (Rievaulx)
Gospel (Year C) - John 16:12
Offertory: Angel voices ever singing (Angel Voices, last v.Betty Roe)
Communion: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart (Slane)
Post-Communion: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty! (Nicaea, last v.Norman Warren)
Postlude: Voluntary No 1 – W.Boyce

Thu May 26th
8.00pm Sung Eucharist and procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction – Corpus Christi
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews
Prelude: Picardy - A.Rowley
Setting: Heath in D (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Panis Angelicus – C.Franck
Processional: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
OT Reading (Year C): Genesis 14:18
Psalm (110): You are a priest for ever (Stephen Dean/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 11:23
Gradual: Word of the Father (Christe Fons Jugis)
Gospel (Year B): John 6:51
Offertory: We pray Thee, Heavenly Father (Offertorium)
THE PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
O saving victim, opening wide (Verbum Supernum)
Lord, enthroned in Heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Sweet sacrament divine (Divine Mysteries)
BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Therefore we before him bending (Pange Lingua)
Postlude: Finale on “Hyfrydol” – Henry Coleman

May 29th
10am Sung Eucharist – First Sunday after Trinity (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Aiden Smith
Prelude: Air (“Water Music”) – G.F.Handel
Setting: Batten (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus - E.Elgar
Processional: Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Blaenwern)
1st Reading (Year C) - 1 Kings 8:22
Psalm (117): Go out to the whole world (Fintan O'Carroll)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Galatians 1:1
Gradual: Lord, thy word abideth (Ravenshaw)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 7:1
Offertory: Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of creation (Lobe Den Herren)
Communion: When all thy mercies O my God (Contemplation)
Post-Communion: Now let us from this table rise
Postlude: Hornpipe (“Water Music”) – G.F.Handel


FROM THE CONSOLE - APRIL 2016



I am continuing my review of magazine articles with the year 2003. The full articles are still available online and can be found here.

Albinoni’s Adagio was the subject of January’s article, although it was actually written by Remo Giozotto, a twentieth century Italian musicologist. In 1945, Giazotto discovered a scrap of music in Dresden State Library and liked it so much he reconstructed the piece.

In February I wrote about another piece with dubious authenticity. Maria Theresia von Paradis studied with Antonio Salieri and Mozart wrote a piano concerto for her. Her most famous composition is the beautiful Sicilienne although several scholars believe it was written by Samuel Dushkin. You can hear an arrangement for trumpet and organ by my brother and I taken from a recital in Christchurch Priory in 1997.

My articles between March and July focussed on churches and collegiate institutions I have been involved with. I joined the choir at Christchurch Priory in 1971 and it was where I began to learn the organ, later becoming assistant organist. I studied for my A Levels in Winchester and had lessons on the Cathedral organ. I went up to Cambridge University in 1983 where I was Organ Scholar at Peterhouse with its famous eighteenth century Snetzler organ. After graduating I moved to Durham University for my Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the College of St Hild and St Bede. After qualifying as a teacher I obtained a post at a school in Southampton, regularly passing St Mary’s Church. In 1885 a group of men from the church’s Young Men's Association formed a football club called Southampton St Mary's. They later changed their name to Southampton Football Club which I have been an avid supporter of for many years!

A number of my articles have been written about my travels in France and in September I wrote about two churches I had recently visited, the Cathedral in Albi in the South-West and the Basilica in Provençal Saint Maximin which is said to house the remains of Saint Mary Magdelene.

In October I wrote the first of two layman’s guide to the organ which looked at the differences between the three keyboards and the pedalboard. November’s article gave details of "From Advent to Trinity", a recital I gave at St Edmund’s that month where I explored music through the liturgical year.

December’s seasonal article was about "In The Bleak Midwinter" which was voted the nation’s favourite Christmas carol as chosen by the listeners of Classic FM

April 3rd
10am Sung Eucharist – Second Sunday of Easter (2.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Honorary Assistant Priest)
Prelude: Adagio – Albinoni/Giazotto
Setting: Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment - P.Aston
Processional: Jesus lives, thy terrors now (St Albinus, last v.Colin Mawby)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 5:27
Psalm ((118): Give thanks to the Lord for he is good (John Jordan/A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 1:4
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia (Ye sons and daughters of the King) (Vulpius)
Gospel (Year C) - John 20:19
Offertory: Alleluia, Alleluia, hearts to Heaven and voices raise (Lux Eoi, last v.Elizabeth Hill)
Communion: This joyful Eastertide (This Joyful Eastertide)
Post-Communion: The strife is o'er, the battle won (Victory)
Postlude – Prelude in D Major – Buxtehude

April 10th
10am Sung Eucharist – Third Sunday of Easter (4.0.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Stuart Nattrass
Prelude – Sicilienne - M.Paradis
Setting: Heath in D (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O Christ, O blessed Lord - R.Wagner
Processional: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem (St Fulbert, last Robert Jones)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 9:1
Psalm (30): I will praise you Lord, you have rescued me (Fintan O'Carroll/Stephen Dean)
2nd Reading (Year C): Revelation 5:11
Gradual: Good Christian men rejoice and sing (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
Gospel (Year C) - John 21:1
Offertory: Come ye faithful raise the strain (St John Damascene)
Communion: There is a redeemer
Post-Communion: Love's redeeming work is done (Savannah, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Crown Imperial – Walton

April 17th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fourth Sunday of Easter (2.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father John Spinks
Prelude – Morning ("Peer Gynt") - E.Grieg
Setting: Healey Willan (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing - J.Rutter
Processional: Praise my soul the King of Heaven (Praise my Soul)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 9:36
Psalm (100): We are his people, the sheep of his flock (A.Gregory Murray/Anne Ward)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Revelation 7:9
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
Gospel (Year C) - John 10:22
Offertory: Hail redeemer, King divine (King Divine)
Communion: The King of love my shepherd is (Dominus Regit Me)
Post-Communion: Sing to God new songs of worship (Ode to Joy)
Postlude – Prelude in F Minor - J.S.Bach

April 24th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fifth Sunday of Easter (2.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Peter Tilley
Prelude: Prelude on “Rhosymedre” – Vaughan Williams
Setting: Wadeley (Gloria/Credo – Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus - W.A.Mozart
Processional: All creatures of our God and King (Lasst Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
1st Reading (Year C) - Acts 11:1
Psalm (145): I will bless your name forever (A.Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading (Year C) - Revelation 21:1
Gradual: Sing Alleluia forth ye Saints on high (Martins)
Gospel (Year C) - John 13:31
Offertory: Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour (St Helen)
Communion: If Christ had not been raised from death (Kingsfold)
Post-Communion: We have a gospel to proclaim (Fulda, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Postlude: Prelude on "Hyfrydol" – Vaughan Williams


FROM THE CONSOLE - MARCH 2016



Early on January 30th, a group of around twenty five of us gathered at church for the drive of over three hours to Walsingham courtesy of Steve and Andy for the licencing of Father Philip as Interim Administrator Priest. We met up with a number of others who had taken advantage of a weekend away in Norfolk.

Richeldis de Faverches was an eleventh century Saxon noblewoman. Her husband, the Lord of the Manor of Walsingham Parva, died and left Richeldis a widow with a son, Geoffrey. She had a deep faith in God and devotion to Mary. She also had a reputation for good works in care and generosity towards those around her. In 1061 she had a series of three visions where she was taken by Mary to be shown the house of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Mary asked Richeldis to build an exact replica of that house in Walsingham and this is how Walsingham became known as England's Nazareth. The materials given by Richeldis were finally constructed miraculously one night into the Holy House. Geoffrey left instructions for the building of a Priory in Walsingham, housing the original wooden structure Richeldis had been asked to build. This became the focus of pilgrimage to Walsingham until its destruction under Henry VIII in 1538.

After nearly four hundred years, the 1920s saw the restoration of pilgrimage to Walsingham as a regular feature of Christian life in the British Isles and beyond. Recent years have seen many developments as pilgrim numbers have continued to increase. These include a new refectory and the redesiging of the gardens which I found particularly peaceful and inspiring. The organ in the Shrine Church was built in 1998 by Bradford Organs, an offshoot of the University of Bradford Physics Department, where much of the modern technology which has hugely improved electronic organs in the last 15 years was developed. It is one of the best electronic organs I have ever heard with extremely authentic voicing.

Mar 6th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fourth Sunday in Lent - Mothering Sunday (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Honorary Assistant Priest)
Prelude: Ave Maria - J.S.Bach/C.Gounod
Setting: Darke in A Minor
Anthem: A Clare Benediction - John Rutter
Processional: Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
Reading (Year C) - Proverbs 31:10
Gradual: One more step along the world I go
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 2:41
Offertory: Colours of day dawn into the mind
Communion: Jesus good above all other (Quem Pastores)
Post-Communion: Shine Jesus Shine
Postlude – Little Prelude and Fugue No 8 - J.S.Bach

Mar 13th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday (5.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Neil Evans
Prelude: Herzlich Thut Mich Verlangen - J.Brahms
Setting: Merbecke
Anthem: O Saviour of the world - J.Goss
Processional: The Royal banners forward go (Gonfalon Royal)
OT Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 43:16
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad (Fintan O'Carroll/Ian Forrester)
NT Reading (Year C) - Philippians 3:4b
Gradual: We sing the praise of him who died (Bow Brickhill)
Gospel (Year B) - John 12:1
Offertory: Who is this so weak and helpless? (Ebenezer)
Communion: Thou didst leave thy throne and thy Kingly crown (Margaret)
Post-Communion: Take up thy cross, the Saviour said (Breslau)
Postlude – O Mensch, Bewein Dein Sunde Gross - J.S.Bach

Mar 20th
10am - Sung Eucharist - Palm Sunday (3.1.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Graham Adamson
Setting: Adrian Batten (Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: The people of the Hebrews - G.Palestrina
Palm Gospel: Luke 19:28
Processional: All glory laud and honour (St Theodulph) & Ride on, ride on in majesty (Winchester New, last v.Andrew moore)
OT Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 50:4
Psalm (22): My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C) - Philippians 2:5
Gradual: Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 22:39 (Dramatised)
Offertory: My song is love unknown (Love Unknown, last v.Mark Hammond)
Communion: O dearest Lord, they sacred head (Belmont)
Post-Communion: Lift high the Cross (Crucifer)
Postlude – Orb and Sceptre - William Walton

Thu Mar 24th
8.00pm The Mass of the Lord's Supper - Maundy Thursday (2.1.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Stuart Nattrass
Prelude: Sicilienne - Paradis
Setting: Nicholson (Gloria – Merbecke)
Anthem: Panis Angelicus – C.Franck
Introit: Praise to the holiest in the height (Gerontius, last v.Colin Hand)
OT: Exodus 12:1
Psalm (116): The blessing cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ (A.Gregory Murray)
NT: 1 Corinthians 11:23
Gradual: Love is his word
GO: John 13:1
During the washing of the feet – God is love (Ubi Caritas) & Meekness and majesty
Offertory: This is the night, dear friends, the night for weeping (Highwood)
Communion: This is my body
Transfer of the blessed sacrament to the altar of repose – Of the glorious body telling (Pange Lingua)
Psalm 22 is read during the stripping of the sanctuary
The watch continues in the altar of repose until the Good Friday liturgy

Fri Mar 25th - Good Friday
11.00am Children’s activities in the Hall

12.00pm Children’s Good Friday Worship

1.00pm A Meditation on Three Pictures
Hymn – When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham, last v.Betty Roe)
Readings – John 18:12; Mark 15:20; Luke 23:44

2.00pm The Liturgy of Good Friday (4.2.1.1)
1st Reading: Isaiah 52:13
Psalm (31) – Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: Hebrews 10:16
Hymn – There is a green hill far away (Horsley)
The Passion of our Lord according to John – Vittoria
Hymn – O Sacred Head, sore wounded (Passion Chorale)
Reproaches during the veneration – Vittoria
Hymn – When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham)
Agnus Dei - Merbecke
Hymn – Glory be to Jesus (Caswall)

Sat Mar 26th
8.00pm Easter Vigil and Eucharist of the Resurrection - Easter Saturday (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Honorary Assistant Priest)
Setting – John Ireland in C
THE SERVICE OF LIGHT
THE VIGIL OF READINGS
1st Reading: Genesis 1:1 (The Creation)
Psalm (33) – Send forth your spirit, O Lord (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: Exodus 14:15 (Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea)
Canticle (Exodus 15) – I will sing to the Lord (A Gregory Murray)
3rd Reading: Ezekiel 37:1 (The Valley of the Dry Bones)
Psalm (30) – I will praise you, Lord (Fintan O’Carroll/Ian Forrester)
Fanfare – Francis Jackson; Gloria - Merbecke
NT Reading: Romans 6:3
Gradual – Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O'Carroll/Christopher Walker)
GO: Luke 24:1
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Processional - Come flowing water pure and clear (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
Offertory – At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (Salzburg)
Anthem – Up, up, my heart with gladness – J.S.Bach
Communion – Love’s redeeming work is done (Savannah, last v.Robert Jones)
Post-Communion – Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem (St Fulbert)
Postlude: Toccata - C.Widor

Mar 27th
10.00am Sung Eucharist - Easter Day (4.2.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: The Rt. Revd. Pete Broadbent, The Bishop of Willesden
Prelude: Toccata in D Minor - J.S.Bach
Setting: Jackson in G (Gloria – Metrical setting to “Evelyns”, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: O Thou the Central Orb - C.Wood
Processional: Hail thee festival day (Salve Festa Dies)
1st Reading: Acts 10:34
Psalm (118): This day was made by the Lord (A Gregory Murray)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:19
Gradual: Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn, last v.Colin Mawby)
GO: John 20:1
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Offertory: The day of resurrection (Ellacombe, last v.Betty Roe)
Communion: Christ the Lord is risen again (Wurtemburg)
Post-Communion: Thine be the Glory (Maccabeus, last v.Norman Warren)
Postlude: Fugue in D Minor - J.S.Bach


FROM THE CONSOLE - FEBRUARY 2016



January’s “From the console” was my 150th so over the next few months I thought it would be an appropriate time to look back at the past thirteen and a half years. If you would like further information they are still all available on this website – there are links at the botom of my St Edmund's home page.

My first article was in September 2002, two years after being appointed organist at St Edmund’s. It featured the Italian baroque composer Johann Pachelbel and in particular his famous Canon in D. Pachelbel was one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s early influences as a composer and taught his older brother Johann Christoph.

In October and November I wrote about the interesting origins of the organ at St Edmund’s. The organ was originally built by Norman and Beard and installed in 1902 in St Dunstan's Church in Stepney. Around 1970 it was dismantled and acquired by a retired BBC Chief Engineer who rebuilt it and housed it in a barn at a farm in Horsham especially rented for the purpose. It remained there for over ten years until his death. When he died, he willed that the organ be donated to a church and it was passed to St Edmund’s in 1984 although it was not until 1992 that Raymond Isaacson gave the inaugural recital. I also featured two British composers – Herbert Howells and William Matthias.

My December column was devoted to the origins of the carol In Dulci Jubilo. It featured in “Piae Cantiones" ("Devout ecclesiastical and scholastic songs of the old bishops"), a 1582 Finnish collection of mediaeval Latin songs, although we have the Rev. John Mason Neale to thank for discovering this forgotten collection in the nineteenth century. J.S.Bach’s chorale prelude on the carol is always played at the end of the Christmas Eve carol service at King’s College Cambridge (as well as St Edmund’s). I also wrote about Bach’s "Orgelbuchlein" ("Little Organ Book"), a collection of 46 chorale preludes for the liturgical year designed as a teaching manual, four of which I played during Advent.

Feb 7th
10am Sung Eucharist – Sunday next before Lent (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Honorary Assistant Priest)
Prelude: Promenade Sentimentale - V.Cosma
Setting: Darke in F
Anthem: Adoramus Te - G.Palestrina
Processional: Praise to God whose word was spoken (St Helen)
OT Reading (Year C) - Exodus 34:29
Psalm (138): Before the Angels I will bless You O Lord (Liam Affley/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 2 Corinthians 3:12
Gradual: Sing Alleluia forth ye Saints on high (Martins)
Gospel (Year C) - Lukw 9:28
Offertory: Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol, last v.David Terry)
Communion: Faithful Shepherd, feed me (Pastor Pastorum)
Post-Communion: Christ is the King, O friends rejoice (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
Postlude: Processional – W.Matthias

Wed Feb 10th
8pm Sung Eucharist – Ash Wednesday (3.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Graham Adamson
Prelude: Meditation for Ash Wednesday- June Nixon
Setting: Merbecke
Anthem: O most merciful - C.Wood
Processional: Just as I am without one plea (Saffron Walden, last v.Martin Setchell)
OT Reading (Year C) - Joel 2:1
Psalm (51): Have mercy on us Lord for we have sinned (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C) - 2 Corinthians 5:20b
Gradual: Be thou my guardian and my guide (Abridge, last v.Colin Hand)
Gospel (Year B) - Matthew 6:1
Imposition of ashes
Offertory: Jesu lover of my soul (Aberystwyth, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Post-Communion: Lord Jesus think on me (Southwell)
Postlude – Aus tiefer not schrei ich zu dir - J.G.Walther

Feb 14th
8pm Sung Eucharist – First Sunday of Lent (4.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Stuart Nattrass
Prelude: Canon in D – J.Pachelbel
Setting: Batten
Anthem: God is our hope and strength - J.S.Bach
Processional: Forty days and forty nights (Aus Der Tiefe, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT Reading (Year C) - Deuteronomy 26:1
Psalm (91): Be with me Lord in my distress (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Romans 10:8b
Gradual: Father hear the prayer we offer (Sussex)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 4:1
Offertory: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Gerontius, last v.Colin Hand)
Communion: Lead us Heavenly Father lead us (Mannheim, last v.Andrew Wright)
Post-Communion: He who would valiant be (Monk's Gate)
Postlude: Little Prelude & Fugue No 4 – J.S.Bach

Feb 21st
8pm Sung Eucharist – Second Sunday of Lent (3.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father John Spinks
Prelude: Master Tallis’s Testament – H.Howells
Setting: Batten
Anthem: O come ye servants of the Lord - C.Tye
Processional: Immortal, invisible, God only wise (Se Denio, last v.Betty Roe)
OT Reading (Year C) - Genesis 15:1
Psalm (27): The Lord is my light and my help (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Philippians 3:17
Gradual: Tis good Lord to be here (Carlisle)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 13:31
Offertory: At the name of Jesus (Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: To God be the Glory
Postlude: Little Prelude & Fugue No 5 – J.S.Bach

Feb 28th
8pm Sung Eucharist – Third Sunday of Lent
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Aiden Smith
Indisposed - Setting: Batten; Anthem: Lead me Lord - S.S.Wesley


FROM THE CONSOLE - JANUARY 2016



Last month I wrote about David Willcocks, whose arrangements and descants epitomise Christmas. Another man who has made a huge contribution to this time of year is John Rutter.

Rutter was born in London in 1945 and for the first decade of his life lived above a pub opposite Baker Street station. He was a pupil at Highgate, where his contemporaries included the composer John Tavener and pianist Howard Shelley. The school’s renowned boys’ choir performed on the 1963 recording of Britten’s “War Requiem” conducted by the composer. Rutter later said “I think we knew that we were touching the hem of history's garment." Two of Rutter’s most popular compositions – Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and Nativity Carol - were both written in his teens. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he showed his compositions to David Willcocks, who used his influence to get some of them published.

After graduating, Rutter taught at Southampton University before returning to Clare College in 1975 as Director of Music, a post he held for four years until he decided to devote his time to composition. In 1981 he founded his own choir – the Cambridge Singers – with the primary purpose of recording his own compositions. He has written a number of large-scale choral works such as his Requiem (1985) and Gloria (1974) and several of his anthems are regularly performed at St Edmund’s, such as “A Gaelic Blessing”, “A Clare Benediction” and “Look at the world”.

Rutter is married to Joanne, an American woman he met at a coral workshop in California. They had two sons but tragically the elder, Christopher, was killed in a road accident in 2001 at the age of just nineteen while a student at Cambridge. He has a cottage five miles from his Cambridge home where he goes to compose.

My favourite Rutter composition is probably “The Lord bless you and keep you”. It was written in 1981 for the memorial service of Edward Chapman, who was Director of Music during Rutter’s time at Highgate School. The words come from Numbers 6:24: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Sadly January 17th is Father Philip’s final service as Vicar of St Edmund’s and he has chosen the music for the occasion. Herbert Howells wrote two sets of three psalm preludes. The first of these, written during the First World War whilst at the Royal College of Music, is based on words from Psalm 34 - This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. J.S.Bach’s prelude (and fugue) in B Minor was written slightly later than most of his organ works and dates from his time in Leipzig around 1730 where he was Cantor at the Thomaskirke. John Ireland’s communion service in C dates from 1913 during the composer’s tenure as organist at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, where Charles Dickens was married. Mozart’s Corpus Christi motet “Ave Verum Corpus” was written less than six months before the composer’s death in 1791. The work is especially poignant for me as it I performed it at my Father’s funeral. It has been a pleasure to work with Father Philip over the past seven years and he will be greatly missed in the parish. I wish him all the best for the future as he takes up the post of Interim Administrator at Walsingham.

Jan 3rd
10am Sung Eucharist – Epiphany (3.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: The Three Kings – P.Cornelius, arr.M.Hammond
Setting: Darke in A Minor (Metrical Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry, Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: The Shepherds' Farewell - H.Berlioz
Processional: The First Nowell the angels did say (The First Nowell)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 60:1
Psalm (72): All nations shall fall prostrate before you O Lord (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): Ephesians 3:1
Gradual: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning (Epiphany)
Gospel (Year C): Matthew 2:1
Offertory: As with gladness men of all (Dix, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Communion: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Was Lebet, last v.Colin Hand)
Post-Communion: We three kings of orient are (Kings of Orient)
Postlude: Wie Schoen Leuchtet Der Morgenstern – J.S.Bach

Jan 10th
10am Sung Eucharist – The Baptism of Christ (2.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Chorale Prelude on “Dix” – M.Archer
Setting: Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing - J.Rutter
Processional: Thou whose almighty word (Moscow, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT Reading (Year C): Isaiah 43:1
Psalm (104): Bless the Lord my soul, Lord God how great you are (Martin Hall/Ian Forrester)
NT Reading (Year C): Acts 8:14
Gradual: The sinless one to Jordan came (Gonfalon Royal)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 3:15
During Thanksgiving for Holy Baptism: Come flowing waters pure and clear (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
Offertory: Songs of thankfulness and praise (St.Edmund, last v.Martin Setchell)
Communion: Now is eternal light (Christchurch)
Post-Communion: Glorious things of thee are spoken (Austria, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Little Prelude & Fugue No 1 – J.S.Bach

Jan 17th
10am Sung Eucharist – The Second Sunday of Epiphany (5.2.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No 1 - H.Howells
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Processional: O Worship the King all glorious above (Hanover, descant Alan Gray)
OT Reading (Year C) - Isaiah 62:1
Psalm (96): Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples (Francis Duffy/Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 12:1
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
Gospel (Year C) - John 2:1
Offertory: All my hope on God is founded (Michael, descant English Praise)
Communion: Sweet Sacrament Divine (Divine Mysteries)
Post-Communion: Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Postlude: Prelude in B Minor - J.S.Bach

Jan 24th
10am Sung Eucharist – The Third Sunday of Epiphany (4.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Paul Hullyer
Prelude: Chorale Prelude on “Stuttgart” – F.Peeters
Setting: Darke in E (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: These are they - J.Goss
Processional: All hail the power of Jesu's name (Miles Lane, last v.Andrew Moore)
OT Reading (Year C) - Nehemiah 8:1
Psalm (19): Your words are spirit Lord, and they are life (Helen Penny/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Corinthians 12:12
Gradual: Lord thy word abideth (Ravenshaw, last v.Andrew Fletcher)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 4:14
Offertory: Hail to the Lord's annointed (Cruger, last v.Michael Higgins)
Communion: O thou who camest from above (Hereford, last v.Mark Hammond)
Post-Communion: Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Postlude: Little Prelude & Fugue No 2 – J.S.Bach

Jan 31st
10am Sung Eucharist – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlesmas) (4.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Peter Tilley
Prelude: Sicilienne – G.Faure
Setting: Wadeley (Metrical Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry, Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: From the rising of the sun - F.Ouseley
Processional:Longing for light, we wait in darkness
OT Reading (Year C) - Malachi 3:1
Psalm (24): Who is the King of Glory? It is the Lord (John Rombaut/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Hebrews 2:14
Gradual: Sing how the age-long promise of a saviour (Christe Fons Jugis)
Gospel (Year C) - Luke 2:22
Offertory: Hail to the Lord who comes (Old 120th)
Communion: Christ whose Glory fills the skies (Ratisbon, last v.Rosalie Bonighton)
Post-Communion: The Spirit lives to set us free
Postlude: Little Prelude & Fugue No 3 – J.S.Bach


FROM THE CONSOLE - DECEMBER 2015



In September the death was announced at the age of 95 of David Willcocks, the renowned former director of the choir of King’s College, Cambridge whose carol descants – most notably “O come all ye faithful” - are in integral part of Christmas music-making.

Willcocks was born in Cornwall in 1919 and became a chorister at Westminster Abbey on the recommendation of composer Sir Walford Davies. In 1939 he was appointed Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge. A year later he was commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry as an intelligence officer and took part in the Normandy landings. The information Willcocks transmitted proved vital in breaking up the enemy counter-attacks and he was awarded the military cross by Field-Marshall Montgomery.

After the war, Willcocks returned to Cambridge to complete his degree. In 1947 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers at Salisbury Cathedral. Three years later he took up a similar post at Worcester Cathedral where he also directed the triennial Three Choirs’ Festival on several occasions. In 1957 he returned to King’s as organist in succession to Boris Ord. He also worked as a university lecturer and from 1960 was musical director of the Bach Choir. It was during his 14-year tenure that the choir achieved international recognition, largely through their recordings. Punctuality, self-discipline, preparation and full attention at rehearsals were essential qualities for his choir. A boy was allowed one yawn at the 8am rehearsal, but a second would mean putting his head under a cold tap. Those who made mistakes in rehearsal were expected to raise a hand to admit their error, while a fluffed note during a service meant queuing up after the Dismissal to apologise!

He jointly edited the four “Carols for Choirs” collections which have become the definitive source of Christmas carols. The first (the green book) was published in 1961 with the second (the orange book) following in 1970. Two more, including one for upper voices, appeared a few years later. A compilation volume entitled “100 Carols for Choirs” was published in 1987.

In 1974, Willcocks became Director of the Royal College of Music and was knighted three years later. He conducted at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981. He is survived by his wife Rachel, whom he married in 1947. Jonathon, one of three children, is a renowned composer and conductor.

I would like to add my best wishes to Nora Wood who has stepped down after 25 years as choir director at St Edmund’s. I first met Nora when I joined her on the staff at St Margaret’s School, Bushey in 1988. I performed at St Edmund’s on a casual basis on several occasions before being appointed as organist in 2000. She has served the church with great faithfulness and I wish her a happy “retirement” in the congregation.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a blessed Christmas.

Dec 6th
10am Sung Eucharist – Advent 2 (2.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Berceuse (Peterhouse Chapel Windows Suite) – B.Ferguson
Setting: Healey Willan (Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O strength and stay - L.Bourgeois
Processional: Hills of the north rejoice (Little Cornard)
OT Reading (Year C): Baruch 5:1
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us indeed we were glad (Fintan O'Carroll/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Philippians 1:3
Gradual: Hark a herald voice is calling (Merton, last v.Colin Mawby)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 3:1
Offertory: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy)
Communion: Your gentleness I God of grace (Herongate)
Post-Communion: Come thou long-expected Jesus (Cross of Jesus, last v.Robert Jones)
Postlude: Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland – J.S.Bach

Dec 13th
10am Sung Eucharist – Advent 3 (2.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Gottes Sohn Ist Kommen – J.S.Bach
Setting: Oldroyd (Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Lord that descendeth - E.Gritton
Processional: On Jordan's banks the Baptist's cry (Winchester New, last v.Andrew Moore)
OT Reading (Year C): Zephaniah 3:14
Canticle (Isaiah 12:2): Sing and shout for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Philippians 4:4
Gradual: The Lord will come and not be slow (St Stephen)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 3:7
Offertory: Wake O wake with tidings thrilling (Wachet Auf)
Communion: Thou did'st leave thy throne and thy Kingly crown (Margaret)
Post-Communion: Love divine all love's excelling (Blaenwern)
Postlude: Vom Himmel Hoch – J.Pachelbel

Dec 20th
10am Sung Eucharist – Advent 4 (3.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Pastorale (Christmas Concerto) – A.Corelli
Setting: Heath in D (Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Adam Lay Ybounden - P.Warlock
Processional: Long ago prophets knew (Personet Hodie)
OT Reading (Year C): Micah 5:2
Psalm (80): God of hosts, bring us back, let you face shine upon us and we shall be saved (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): Hebrews 10:5
Gradual: Tell out my soul teh greatness of the Lord (Woodlands)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 1:39
Offertory: O come O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Communion: Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Post-Communion: Hark the glad sound the Saviour comes (Bristol, last v.Andrew Fletcher
Postlude: Advent Reflections – R.Bonighton

Dec 20th - 6.30pm A Festival of nine lessons and carols (5.3.2.2)
Prelude – Six interludes on Christmas carols – W.Lloyd-Webber
Carol – Stille Nacht – Franz Gruber, arr.Donald Cashmore
Hymn – Once in royal David’s city
Bidding prayer
Carol – Adam Lay Ybounden - Peter Warlock
1st lesson – Genesis 3:8
Hymn - Of the Father's Heart Begotten
2nd lesson – Genesis 22:15
Carol – In the Bleak Midwinter - H.Darke
3rd lesson – Isaiah 9:2
Hymn - It came upon the midnight clear
4th lesson – Isaiah 11:1
Carol - All in the morning - Trad, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
5th lesson – Luke 1:26
Hymn - Sussex Carol
6th lesson – Luke 2:1
Carol – O little town of Bethlehem - Peter Heath
Hymn – See amid the winter's snow
7th lesson – Luke 2:8
Carol – The shepherds’ farewell – H.Berlioz
8th lesson – Matthew 2:1
Carol – The Holly and the Ivy - John Gardner
9th lesson – John 1:1
Hymn – O come all ye faithful
Collect and blessing
Hymn – Hark the herald angels sing
Postludes – In Dulci Jubilo – J.S.Bach & Carillon Sortie – H.Mulet


FROM THE CONSOLE - NOVEMBER 2015



In June Aline and I attended a special evensong at St Mary’s Church in Harrow on the Hill presided over by our very own Father Philip. Despite having lived in the borough for over twenty years, this was the first time I had set foot in this church which dominates the landscape for miles around. The first church on the site was consecrated in 1094 although only the lower part of the tower remains of that building. Lord Byron was a frequent visitor while a Harrow schoolboy and used to lie on the table-top of a tomb in the churchyard to compose his poetry, a spot with fine views where he ‘used to spend hours musing and gazing over the countryside’. Next to the tomb, now covered with a grill, is a plaque commemorating Byron’s connection with the church. In 1822, Byron’s daughter, Allegra, died at the age of just five. The rector of St Mary, outraged by Byron's reputation and Allegra’s illegitimacy, only allowed her to be buried in an unmarked grave outside the south porch. In 1980 the Byron Society placed a memorial plaque to Allegra in the church. The organ, originally built in 1900 by Lewis & Co of London, was rebuilt by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1970 and consists of 37 speaking stops over three manuals.

During the service there were special awards given to choristers in memory of Ronald Chester, a member of the choir who was killed in 1918 whilst on active service. Every year a competition is held and the winners receive a small prize and are entitled to wear a Chester Medal for the ensuing year. The service also commemorated the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.

The day was also designated as RSCM Music Sunday. The Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sidney Nicholson, then organist of Westminster Abbey. It supports a worldwide network of over 8,000 churches and aims to support church music today and to invest in church music for the future, largely through publications, courses and an award scheme. RSCM Music Sunday is a celebration of the music and musicianship that are a vital and beloved part of church life.

Nov 1st
10am Sung Eucharist – All Saints Sunday (2.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Clair de Lune – C.Debussy
Setting: Wadeley (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: These are they - John Goss
Processional: Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Laast Uns Erfreuen, last v.Quentin Thomas)
OT Reading (Year B): Isaiah 25:6
Psalm (24): Blessed are those who seek your face O Lord (Stephen Dean/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Revelation 21:1
Gradual: Let Saints on earth in concert sing (Dundee)
Gospel (Year B): John 1:32
Offertory: Jerusalem the golden (Ewing, last v.Norman Warren)
Communion: Come risen Lord and deign to be our guest (Farley Castle)
Post-Communion: For all the Saints who from their labours rest (Sine Nomine)
Postlude – Pomp & Circumstance March No.4 - E.Elgar

Nov 8th
10am Sung Eucharist – Remembrance Sunday (3 before Advent) (3.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Nimrod – E.Elgar
Setting: Heath in D (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Lead me Lord - S.S.Wesley
"Faith on the front line"
Processional: Lord for the years
Florence Nightingale
Reading (Year B): Romans 8:31
Gradual: God is our strength and refuge
Gospel (Year B): Matthew 5:1
Edith Cavell
Offertory: Great is thy faithfulness
Communion: Make me a channel of your peace
Act of remembrance
Post-Communion: The National Anthem
Postlude: Fame and Glory – A.Matt

3.30pm Service of Commemoration for the faithful departed (3.2.0.0)
Prelude – Pavane – G.Faure
Hymn – Lord of all hopefulness (Slane)
Reading – Romans 8:31
Hymn – The Lord’s my Shepherd (Crimond)
Gospel – John 1:1
Sermon & Prayers of Intercession
Hymn – Be still, my soul (Finlandia)
Music during The Commemoration and lighting of candles – God be in my Head – Walford Davis
Hymn – Love divine, all love’s excelling (Blaenwern)
Postlude – Sicilienne – M.T.von Paradis (attr.)

Nov 15th
10am Sung Eucharist – 2 before Advent (4.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Symphony No 6 (1st Move.) – L.Beethoven
Setting: Oldroyd (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: I give you a new commandment - P.Aston
Processional: Stand up, stand up for Jesus (Morning Light)
OT Reading (Year B): Daniel 12:1
Psalm (16): Preserve me God I take refuge in You (John Glynn/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Hebrews 10:11
Gradual: The Kingdom is upon you (Wolvercote)
Gospel (Year B): Mark 13:1
Offertory: God is working his purpose out (Benson)
Communion: Be thou my vision (Slane)
Post-Communion: To God be the glory
Postlude – Trumpet Tune - J.Stanley

Fri Nov 20th
8pm Sung Eucharist – The Feast of St Edmund, King and Martyr (4.1.1.2)
Preacher: Revd. Peter Godden (Curate, Holy Trinity Church, Northwood)
Celebrant: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund’s)
Prelude: Psalm Prelude, Set 1, No. 1 - H.Howells
Setting: Ireland in C (Metrical Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry)
Anthem: O Thou the central orb - C.Wood
Processional: God of Saints we praise and bless Thee (Abbot's Leigh)
OT Reading (Year B): Proverbs 20:28
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us indeed we were glad (Fintan O'Carroll/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Romans 8:35
Gradual: Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O'Carroll/Christopher Walker)
Gospel (Year B): John 12:20
Offertory: God whose city's sure foundation (Westminster Abbey, last v.Colin Mawby)
Communion: In our day of thanksgiving (St Catherine's Court)
Post-Communion: For all the Saints who from their labours rest (Sine Nomine)
Postlude – Toccata - C.Widor

Nov 22nd
10am Sung Eucharist – Christ the King (Next before Advent) (4.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: Suite from "Henry V" - W.Walton
Setting: Burton (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: O Christ, O blessed Lord - R.Wagner
Processional: Hail Redeemer, King divine (King Divine)
OT Reading (Year B): Daniel 7:9
Psalm (93): The Lord is King with majesty enrobed (Joan McCrimmn/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Revelation 1:4b
Gradual: Christ is the King, O friends rejoice (Vulpius, last v.Andrew Wright)
Gospel (Year B): John 18:33
Offertory: Crown Him with many crowns (Diademata, last v.Drew Tullock)
Communion: Forth in the peace of Christ we go (Song 34)
Post-Communion: Christ triumphant ever reigning (Guiting Power)
Postlude – Orb and Sceptre - W.Walton

Nov 29th
10am Sung Eucharist – Advent Sunday (5.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude: O come, O come, Emmanuel - Colin Hand
Setting: Rogers (Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Sleepers wake - F.Mendelssohn
Processional: The advent of our King (St Thomas)
OT Reading (Year C): Jeremiah 33:14
Psalm (25): To You O Lord I lift up my soul (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year C): 1 Thessalonians 3:9
Gradual: Lift up your heads ye mighty gates (Gonfalon royal)
Gospel (Year C): Luke 21:25
Offertory: O come O come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: Lo He comes with clouds descending (Helmsley, last v.Martin Setchell)
Postlude – Wachet auf ruft uns die stimme - J.S.Bach


FROM THE CONSOLE - OCTOBER 2015



On October 10th St Edmund’s will be hosting the Harrow Deanery Choirs Festival. “The Lord and His Prayer” is a sequence of music and readings celebrating the Lord’s Prayer.

Bernard Rose was a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral and became assistant organist there at the age of just 15. After graduating from St Catherine’s College, Cambridge, he was appointed Tutor of Music at Oxford University. World War Two broke out shortly afterwards and Rose saw action in North Africa and Italy as a Desert Rat. He took part in the D-Day landings and spent the last year of the war in a German POW camp. After the war he resumed his teaching career and in 1957 was appointed as organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, a post he was to hold for almost twenty five years and where his first organ scholar was Dudley Moore. His set of preces, responses and the Lord’s Prayer date from 1957 and were dedicated to Rev. Arthur Adams, Dean of Magdalen.

Malcolm Archer is Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College and has previously held posts at several English cathedrals, most notably as Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, a post he held for three years from 2004-2007. Rejoice the Lord is King is a setting of Charles Wesley’s hymn commonly sung to Handel’s tune Gopsal. In 2005, over 200 singers from schools dedicated to Queen Margaret of Scotland performed at four venues in England and Scotland - the Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich, Dunfermline Abbey, St Gile's Cathedral in Edinburgh and York Minster. I played the organ for three of these concerts and you can hear our Greenwich performance of this work here.

O Taste and see is a setting of a verse of Psalm 34 - O taste and see how gracious the Lord is: Blest is the man that trusteth in him - written by Ralph Vaughan Williams for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Unaccompanied except for a three-bar organ introduction, a solo soprano sings the opening theme – the first four notes being identical to his Sine Nomine setting of the hymn “For all the Saints” - which is repeated by the choir coming in one part at a time.

Charles Wesley’s grandson, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, held organist posts at a number of English cathedrals including Hereford, Gloucester and Winchester. Wash me throughly is a setting of part of Psalm 51 - Wash me throughly from my wickedness, and forgive me all my sin: For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me – and was written around 1840 during Wesley’s tenure at Exeter Cathedral with chromaticism typical of Wesley’s style. The anthem has two main ideas – the first introduced by a solo soprano and the second by the basses – which are combined towards the end.

Richard Farrant was a sixteenth century English composer. He was a gentleman of the Chapel Royal and was later organist at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. As well as music, Farrant was a dramatist and founded the Blackfriars Theatre, one of the most important places for London drama during the Renaissance. Lord for thy tender mercies sake sets words from Henry Bull’s 1566 “Christian Prayers and Holy Meditations” - For thy tender mercy sake lay not my sins to my charge, but forgive that is past; and give me grace to amend my life, to decline from sin, and incline to virtue, that I may walk with an upright heart, a clean conscience, and single eye before thee this day and evermore.

Above all praise and all majesty (“Am Himmelfahrtstage”) is the third of “Six Motets” written by Mendelssohn. These cycle around the church year and were first performed in Berlin in 1846.

As well as these anthems and a psalm there will be plenty of opportunities for congregational participation with five well-known hymns including “Praise my soul the King of Heaven” and “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”.

My voluntary will be Mulet’s Carillon Sortie. Henri Mulet studied with Charles Widor before going on to become choirmaster at Sacre-Coeur in Paris. In 1937, he burnt most of his manuscripts and moved to Draguignan in Provence for the last thirty years of his life. There he lived in seclusion and served as cathedral organist for most of this time.

Oct 4th
10am Sung Eucharist – Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity (4.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Chorale Prelude on Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot’ – J.S.Bach
Setting: Rogers (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Gos be in my head - John Rutter
Processional: Angel voices ever singing (Angel Voices, last v.Betty Roe)
OT Reading (Year B): Genesis 2:18
Psalm (128): May the Lord bless us all the days of our life (A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Hebrews 1:1
Gradual: There's a wideness in God's mercy (Cross of Jesus, last v.Robert Jones)
Gospel (Year B): Mark 10:2
Offertory: How shall I sing that majesty (Coe Fen)
Communion: Make me a channel of your peace
Post-Communion: Guide me O thou great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda)
Postlude – Carillon Sortie – H.Mulet

Oct 11th
10am Sung Eucharist – Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity (5.2.1.2)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Adagio – S.Barber
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus - W.A.Mozart
Processional: Hail Redeemer, King Divine (King Divine)
OT Reading (Year B): Amos 5:6
Psalm (90): Fill us with your love that we may rejoice (E.Welch/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): Hebrews 4:12
Gradual: Amazing Grace
Gospel (Year B): Mark 10:17
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Communion: Thou didst leave thy throne and thy Kingly crown (Margaret)
Post-Communion: We have a gospel to proclaim (Fulda)
Postlude – Songs of Praise – R.Prizeman

Oct 18th
10am Sung Eucharist – Twentieth Sunday after Trinity (3.1.0.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Ave Maria – J.S.Bach/C.Gounod
Setting: Darke in A Minor (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: The Call - R.Vaughan Williams
Processional: Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Blaenwern)
OT Reading (Year B): Isaiah 53:4
Psalm (33): May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you (Anne Ward)
NT Reading (Year B): Hebrews 5:1
Gradual: From Heaven you came helpless babe (The Servant King)
Gospel (Year B): Mark 10:35
Offertory: Light of the minds that know him (Aurelia)
Communion: As the deer pants for the water
Post-Communion: Ye Holy Angels bright (Darwall's 148th)
Postlude – Prelude No 4 – F.Schmidt

Oct 25th
10am Sung Eucharist – The Last Sunday after Trinity (5.0.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Allegretto Grazioso – F.Bridge
Setting: Healey Willan (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Teach me O Lord - T.Attwood
Processional: O worship the King all glorious above (Hanover)
OT Reading (Year B): Jeremiah 31:7
Psalm (126): What marvels the Lord worked for us, indeed we were glad (Fintan O'Carroll/Ian Forrester
NT Reading (Year B): Hebrews 7:23
Gradual: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
Gospel (Year B): Mark 10:46
Offertory: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy)
Communion: I the Lord of sea and sky (Here I am Lord)
Post-Communion: God is love, let Heaven adore him (Blaenwern)
Postlude – Allegro Marziale – F.Bridge


FROM THE CONSOLE - SEPTEMBER 2015



The first week of our summer in France was spent in the town of Luz Saint Sauveur in the Pyrenees close to the Spanish border and not far from the town of Lourdes.

The town rose to prominence in 1858 when the fourteen year old Bernadette Soubirous was said to have been witness to eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a grotto. These were eventually declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church and Bernadette was canonized in 1933. At her request a number of chapels and churches were built on the site and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, welcoming over six million visitors a year. The spring water from the grotto is said to possess healing powers and pilgrims fill up all manner of plastic containers. My guidebook describes Lourdes as the Las Vegas of the Catholic world and there is certainly an element of tackiness in row upon row of souvenir shops. However one cannot fail to be moved by the procession of people, many in wheelchairs, being taken to bathe in the waters in the hope of being cured.

The Sanctuary is dominated by the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, otherwise known as the Upper Basilica (the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary being immediately underneath). It was constructed between 1866 and 1872 and the clock plays the Ave Maria hourly. The organ was built by the renowned Aristide Cavaille-Coll and was inaugurated in 1873 by Charles-Marie Widor.

The scenery of the Pyrenees is spectacular and we visited two of the most prominent natural sites – the Cirque de Gavarnie, an amphitheatre-like valley head formed by glacial erosion, and the Pont d’Espagne, with its impressive waterfalls. We were also lucky enough to witness the Tour de France passing through Luz with its colourful advertising caravan of wacky vehicles throwing out free gifts such as keyrings and sunhats!

Sep 6th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity (3.1.0.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Pavane – G.Faure
Setting: Darke in F (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
Processional: Thou whose almighty word (Moscow, last v.Stanley Vann)
OT Reading (Year B) - Isaiah 35:4
Psalm (146): My soul give praise to the Lord (John Jordan/A.Gregory Murray)
NT Reading (Year B): James 2:1
Gradual: Restore O Lord the honour of your name
Gospel (Year B) - Mark 7:24
Offertory: O for a thousand tongues to sing (Oxford New)
Communion: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Post-Communion: Through all the changing scenes of life (Wiltshire)
Postlude – Sortie in E Flat – L.Lefebure-Wely

Sep 13th
10am Sung Eucharist – Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (4.0.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude – Adagio – T.Albinoni/R.Giazotto
Setting: Wadeley (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: As water to the thirsty - John Barnard
Processional: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Gerontius, last v.Colin Hand)
OT Reading (Year B): Isaiah 50:4
Psalm (116): I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year B): James 3:1
Gradual: Thou art the Christ O Lord (Gopsal, last v.John Marsh)
Gospel (Year B): Mark 8:27
Offertory: O Jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Communion: Take up thy cross the Saviour said (Breslau)
Post-Communion: Lord for the years
Postlude – Grand March (“Aida”) – G.Verdi

Sep 20th
10am Sung Eucharist – Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (4.1.1.0)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Tony Andrews (Former Hon. Asst. Priest)
Prelude – Chanson de Nuit – E.Elgar
Setting: Ireland in C (Gloria/Credo - Merbecke)
Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing - John Rutter
Processional: For the beauty of the earth (England's Lane)
OT Reading (Year B): Wisdom 1:16
Psalm (54): The Lord upholds my life (Stephen Dean)
NT Reading (Year B): James 3:13
Gradual: Lord thy word abideth (Ravenshaw)
Gospel (Year B): Mark 9:30
Offertory: Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Communion: Now let us from this table rise
Post-Communion: To God be the glory
Postlude – Hornpipe (“Water Music”) – G.Handel

Sep 27th
11am Sung Eucharist – Harvest Thanksgiving (Seventeeth Sunday after Trinity) (4.1.1.1)
Celebrant/Preacher: Father Philip Barnes (Vicar, St Edmund's)
Prelude –Adagio (Symphony No 3) – C.Saint-Saens
Setting: Sidney Nicholson (Metrical Gloria – Evelyns, last v.David Terry) Anthem: Loook at the world - John Rutter
Processional: Come ye thankful people come (St George's Windsor, last v.Michael Higgins
THE STORY OF ST FRANCIS
Hymn: All creatures of our God and King - 2 verses (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD - Reading from Psalm 104
Hymn: All creatures of our God and King - 3 verses
Gospel: Matthew 13
A PRAYER OF PRAISE
Hymn: All creatures of our God and King - 2 verses, last v.Quentin Thomas
Offertory: We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflugen, last v.Betty Roe)
Communion: Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer (Bunessan)
Post-Communion: All things bright and beautiful (All Things Bright and Beautiful)
Postlude – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – G.Handel

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