St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge The Diocese of London

The Solemn Eucharist The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

23rd September 2012 at 11 a.m.

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Welcome to St Paul’s Knightsbridge, part of the Diocese of London and a church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. If you are visiting us from another church, please make yourself known to the sidesmen or to one of the clergy after the service. Members of all Christian churches are welcome to share with us in this Eucharist – and those who do not wish to receive the Sacrament are invited to approach the altar at the time of Communion, to receive a blessing.

There is a loop system in the lower parts of the church for the benefit of the hearing-impaired. Hearing aid users should switch

their devices to ‘T’.

During the service a collection will be taken for the work of the church in this parish, throughout the

Diocese of London and further afield. Please use the special envelopes at the end of each pew to maximise your giving through the ‘Giftaid’ scheme.

Members of the congregation are asked to ensure that mobile phones are switched off (or to silent) and are reminded that the taking of photographs or

the making of audio or video recordings during services is prohibited.

Cover image: Christ washing the feet of his disciples

Rembrandt

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Order of Service

The Introductory Rite At 11 a.m. a bell is rung. The Servers and Sacred Ministers enter and process to cense the High Altar before returning to the platform. All stand to sing:

ENTRANCE HYMN

The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation, by water and the word: from heaven he came and sought her to be his holy Bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died. Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued. Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed; yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, ‘How long?’ and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song. Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won. O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

Samuel Stone (1839-1900) Tune: ‘Aurelia’ by S. S. Wesley (1810-76)

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THE GREETING When all are in their places the Celebrant says:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you and with thy spirit.

THE PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name; through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE

The Deacon says: 'Be imitators of God; love as Christ loved; do not grieve the Holy Spirit; put away all anger and bitterness, all slander and malice.' So let us confess our sins to God who forgives us in Christ. All kneel. A time of silence and recollection is kept. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against thee and against our neighbour, in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are heartily sorry and repent of all our sins.

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For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve thee in newness of life to the glory of thy name. Amen. The Celebrant says:

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. All stand for the intonation of the Gloria, then sit with the Celebrant. The choir sings:

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens, Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God, the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten son, Jesus Christ: O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art the most high, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Cantus Missae in Eb- Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839- 1901)

All stand when the sacred ministers stand.

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THE COLLECT The Celebrant introduces a period of silence:

Let us pray.

Thereafter, he sings: O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. All sit

The Liturgy of the Word

THE FIRST READING Wisdom 1. 16-2. 1, 12-22

A reading from the book of Wisdom. But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his company. For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, ‘Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. ‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange.

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We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.’ Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls.

At the end: This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

THE PSALMODY Save me, O God, for thy Name’s sake and avenge me in thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God and hearken unto the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. Behold, God is my helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies destroy thou them in thy truth. An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord because it is so comfortable. For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm 54

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THE SECOND READING

James 3. 13-4. 3, 7-8a

A reading from the letter of James.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

At the end: This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

All stand.

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THE GRADUAL HYMN Jesus, Lord, we look to thee; let us in thy Name agree; show thyself the Prince of Peace, bid our strife forever cease. Make us of one heart and mind, gentle, courteous, and kind, lowly, meek, in thought and word, altogether like our Lord. Let us for each other care, each the other's burdens bear; to thy church the pattern give, show how true believers live. Free from anger and from pride; let us thus in God abide; all the depths of love express, all the heights of holiness.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-88)

Music: ‘Vienna’, J. H. Knecht (1752-1817)

All remain standing.

THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The Cantor sings:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. The word of the Lord endures for ever. The word of the Lord is the good news announced to you. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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THE GOSPEL READING The Deacon says:

The Lord be with you And with thy spirit. Hear the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, according to Mark. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Jesus and the disciples went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Mark 9: 30-37

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to thee, O Christ.

THE SERMON The Reverend Stephen Young

Senior Curate Silence is kept.

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THE CREED

All stand with the Celebrant, who says: Let us make affirmation of our faith. I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. All remain standing.

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THE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father. All kneel. Either of the following responses may be used:

Lord in thy mercy or Lord, hear us hear our prayer Lord, graciously hear us. For the departed, these words may be used:

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. At the end, a brief period of silence is kept for personal prayer. All say:

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE NOTICES All stand.

THE PEACE The Celebrant says:

We are the body of Christ. In the one spirit we were all baptised into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life. The peace of the Lord be always with you. and with thy spirit. The Deacon says:

Let us offer one another a sign of peace. All exchange a sign of peace with those standing close by.

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The Liturgy of the Sacrament

THE OFFERTORY

The gifts of the people are carried to the altar and presented. A collection is taken to support our work, ministry and charitable giving. Please use the Gift Aid envelopes provided, remembering to fill in all the details. The altar is prepared and the gifts of bread and wine, the altar, and the sanctuary party are censed.

THE COLLECTION HYMN

Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest; nay, let us be thy guests; the feast is thine; thyself at thine own board make manifest in thine own Sacrament of Bread and Wine. We meet, as in that upper room they met; thou at the table, blessing, yet dost stand: "This is my Body"; so thou givest yet: faith still receives the cup as from thy hand. One body, we, one Body who partake, one Church united in communion blest; one Name we bear, one Bread of life we break, with all thy saints on earth and saints at rest. One with each other, Lord, for one in thee, who art one Saviour and one living Head; then open though our eyes, that we may see; be known to us in breaking of the Bread.

Words: George Wallace Briggs (1875-1959) Music: ’Sheldonian’, Cyril Taylor (1907-91)

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The choir sings:

THE OFFERTORY ANTHEM

Never weather-beaten sail Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848 – 1918)

Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore. Never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more, Than my wearied sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast: O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest. Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven's high Paradise. Cold age deafs not there our ears nor vapour dims our eyes: Glory there the sun outshines whose beams the blessed only see: O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my sprite to thee!

Words: Number 3 in a set of 6 known as the Songs of Farewell

When the Thurifer approaches, all stand to be censed. After being censed, all remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

The Celebrant sings: All respond:

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It is very meet, right and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, thine only Son, our Lord. For he is thy living Word; through him thou hast created all things from the beginning, and fashioned us in thine own image. Through him thou didst redeem us from the slavery of sin, giving him to be born of a woman, to die upon the cross, and to rise again for us. Through him thou hast made us a people for thine own possession, exalting him to thy right hand on high, and sending forth through him thy holy and life-giving Spirit.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying:

The choir sings:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth, Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua, Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Cantus Missae in Eb- Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839- 1901)

The prayer continues:

Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of thy Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be unto us his body and his blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks to thee, he gave it to them, saying:

Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

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Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of his kingdom and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ, thy Son, our Lord.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of thy divine majesty, renew us by thy Holy Spirit, inspire us with thy love, and unite us in the body of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father almighty, world without end. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

All kneel. The Celebrant sings: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.

All sing:

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THE FRACTION

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread, saying:

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

THE GIVING OF HOLY COMMUNION

By way of invitation to receive the Sacrament the Celebrant says:

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. The Sacred Ministers and Servers receive the Holy Communion, followed by the people, beginning with those seated at the front of the Nave. All who normally do so in their own Church are invited to receive the Sacrament. Those who do not wish to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion are invited to approach the altar to receive a blessing, carrying this booklet in their hands as an indication to the Priest. The choir sings:

AGNUS DEI Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Donna nobis pacem. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.

Cantus Missae in Eb- Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839- 1901)

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COMMUNION ANTHEM

Abendlied

Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839- 1901)

Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, und der Tag hat sich geneiget.

Bide with us, for evening shadows darken, and the day will soon be over.

Words: Luke 24,29

PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION The Celebrant introduces a period of silent prayer.

Let us pray. All kneel. Almighty God, who hast taught us through thy Son that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love thee with our whole heart and our neighbours as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, we thank thee for feeding us with the body and blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ. Through him we offer thee our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of thy Spirit to live and work to thy praise and glory. Amen. All stand.

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THE CONCLUDING HYMN

Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone, chosen of the Lord, and precious, binding all the Church in one; holy Zion's help for ever, and her confidence alone. To this temple, where we call thee, come, O Lord of Hosts, today; with thy wonted loving-kindness hear thy servants as they pray, and thy fullest benediction shed within its walls alway. Here vouchsafe to all thy servants what they ask of thee of gain; what they gain from thee, for ever with the blessèd to retain, and hereafter in thy glory evermore with thee to reign. Laud and honour to the Father, laud and honour to the Son, laud and honour to the Spirit, ever Three, and ever One, consubstantial, co-eternal, while unending ages run.

Words: Latin, seventh century; trans. John Mason Neale (1818-66)

Music: ‘Regent Square’, Henry Smart (1813-79)

All remain standing.

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The Concluding Rite

THE BLESSING & THE DISMISSAL

The Celebrant says:

The Lord be with you and with thy spirit.

The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

The Deacon says:

Go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God.

All remain standing as the Servers and Sacred Ministers depart.

ORGAN VOLUNTARY

Fantasia on an Old English Tune

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848 – 1918)

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NOTES ON THE READINGS

Wisdom 1.16- 2.1, 12-22

People have always slandered others. They always will. Sometimes this gossip

turns ugly, and, ultimately, vengeful. So, the innocent suffer from the venom of

those who speak behind backs and seek their brand of "justice" in the dark. The

believer suffers at the hands of those who hate God. The righteous suffer at the

hands of the jealous and the devious. In these passages from the "Wisdom of

Solomon," the author wrote about the true nature of evil. It sought vengeance upon

just almost without reason. In the context of the book, the wise (i.e., the person who

followed God's will and tried to live a good life) would prevail, but only through

God's help. Living out that trust divided the good from the bad. It was that trust

that drove the wicked to frenzied action. Trust in God has a price. Sometimes trust

costs us our reputation. Sometimes it costs us relationships. In the case of a few, it

cost them their lives. But, trust means that God will win out in the end. It means he

will save us. It means the price is worth paying.

James 3. 13-4.3, 7-8a

The author has identified one sin commonly found in the community: intemperate

speech. Now he seeks to correct a second: arrogance – and in the process, tells us

the qualities of wisdom. His understanding of wisdom is like that of the Old

Testament wisdom writers, and of Paul. If you do in life with “gentleness”,

moderation, courtesy and humility (all qualities bound up in the same Greek word)

then you are motivated by “wisdom” (3:13). But if “bitter envy” (3:14) or “selfish

ambition” controls you, you must not boast of it and must not be “false to the

truth”, i.e. Christian revelation, as put into practice by those who are wise. (The

heart was considered the control centre of personality.) For being “false”, “such

wisdom” (3:15) is “earthly” rather than heavenly (“from above”); it is from the

devil. “Envy and selfish ambition” (3:16, or quarrels) are the tools of evil; the devil

works through “disorder”. On the other hand, godly wisdom is “peaceable ...”

(3:17). It does not dominate, but rather yields “good fruits”, to all, openly. Then

3:18: “those who make peace”, i.e. wise people, will, at Judgement Day, have (or be

rewarded with) great integrity in the eyes of God. But quarrels (“conflicts and

disputes”, 4:1) in the community show a lack of “peace” (3:18); they should be

resolved. Are they not the result of conflicting inner urges (“cravings”, 4:1)? The

author gives two examples: murdering to gain what you do not have, and desiring

something belonging to someone else (“covet”, 4:2). God gives us whatever we ask,

so if you do not receive, it is either because you do not ask him, or you ask for your

personal gain (“your pleasures”, 4:3). One cannot be in love with earthly things and

with God: such loves are incompatible (4:4). So completely devote yourselves to

God’s ways (4:7). Say no to the devil, and he will leave you alone. If you approach

God, he will come close to you.

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Mark 9:30-37

The disciples have failed to cure an epileptic boy of an unclean spirit (vv. 14-29);

this has led to them being puzzled. After Jesus cures him, they ask: how could you

cure him but we could not? Jesus tells them: that kind of healing requires the power

of prayer; it can’t be done by earthly means. Now, as they travel from Caesarea

Philippi to Jerusalem, they re-enter Jewish territory (“Galilee”, v. 30). Jesus again

wishes to avoid partial understanding of him and his mission. He again teaches that

he, the “Son of Man is to be” (v. 31) killed, but adds one new idea: he is to be

“betrayed” or handed over to people; this is part of God’s plan. Both his suffering

and betrayal are so beyond the understanding of the disciples that they dare not

reveal their ignorance. Jesus now teaches more about being his followers.

(Presumably “the house”, v. 33, is Peter’s – see 1:29.) The disciples have been

arguing over rank. Jesus says, in effect: to be my disciple, you must abandon

seeking position and prestige. He takes an example (vv. 36-37): to welcome a child

“in my name” (because of regard for who and what I am) is to welcome me, and

indeed God. In Aramaic and Greek the word for “child” is the same as for servant,

so v. 36 may also speak of welcoming a servant, one sent by his master. If so, Jesus

is saying: whoever receives the servant receives the master. Whoever receives a

child receives Jesus, and whoever receives Jesus receives God, who sent him. Both

child and servant are without status. They are unable to repay a kindness, in earthly

terms.

NOTES ON THE MUSIC

Cantus Missae in Eb, op. 109 – Josef Rheinberger (1839 – 1901)

Born in Liechtenstein, Rheinberger held his first organist position at the age of

seven, and he is now remembered almost entirely for his extravagant and

challenging organ compositions. He wrote twenty organ sonatas in twenty different

keys (he planned to write twenty-four Sonatas, using all the keys, but died before

he could complete this challenge). His religious works include twelve masses, a

requiem and a Stabat Mater. The Cantus Missae in Eb is one of Rheinberger’s most

famous works, after the organ Sonatas. This mass for double choir was written in

1878 and dedicated to Pope Leo XIII. It demonstrates the composer’s new-found

liberty and flexibility for writing sacred music, after a period of having to suppress

his individual characteristics due to a conservative movement in the nineteenth

century which set out to reform Roman Catholic music-making. From the very

beginning, this mass takes us back to the late-Renaissance magnificence of a cappella

and ‘spaced’ choirs. It is a work that is alive with ‘word painting’. This, together

with dynamic contrasts, elliptical key-changes and instrumental-like vocal textures,

create a truly astonishing mass.

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Never weather-beaten sail – Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848 – 1918)

Best known for the choral song ‘Jerusalem’, the anthem ‘I was Glad’ and the hymn

‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, Parry was a Director of the Royal College of

Music for twenty-three years, as well as Professor of music at Oxford University for

eight years. Never weather-beaten sail comes from the six ‘Songs of Farewell’ that

Parry wrote between 1916 – 18, who sensed that his life was coming to an end, and

are marked by deep distress due to World War I. Though not devotional works,

these 6 short motets are marked by great variety in compositional and choral

technique. Never weather-beaten sail, for five voices, introduce contrapuntal and

complex voice-writing. The text is by Thomas Campion (1569 – 1626). Similarly to

Rheinberger’s mass, this choral work by Parry demonstrates a lot of word painting

– particularly as the rich contrapuntal texture comes to a brief stop after the words

‘O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest’. Building up again during

the second verse, voices ascending within the thick interweaving texture, this

‘motet’ draws to a gentle close for the words ‘O come quickly, glorious Lord, and

raise my spirit to thee!’

Abendlied – Josef Rheinberger (1839 – 1901)

The text from Abendlied, meaning ‘Evensong’, is taken from The Gospel according

to St. Luke 24:29. The context is the encounter between two of Jesus’ disciples and

the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. The disciples are yet to be convinced that

Christ has risen, and Jesus hears of their disappointment in the man they had hoped

and believed was the Messiah. Abendlied is based on a work that Rheinberger

wrote when he was sixteen, and features a stimulating change from F major to A

minor. It also characterises the plea from the disciples by using a beautiful melodic

line. Rather like Rheinberger’s Cantus Missae, this work is reminiscent of the late-

Renaissance music. It is full of suspensions, and combines both homophonic

(chordal) and polyphonic (contrapuntal) textures. Written for 6 voices, almost

always throughout the piece these voices seem to form two distinct groups:

soprano-soprano-alto and tenor-tenor-bass, each group often imitating the other.

Fantasia on an Old English Tune – Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848 –

1918)

Parry’s Fantasia on an Old English Tune is the middle of three Chorale Fantasies

he wrote, dedicating them to famous organists at the time. This Fantasia, dedicated

to Sir Walter Parratt, is based on the Old English Tune ‘When I Survey the

Wondrous Cross’, and is written in a highly embellished style which is very much

associated with the German Baroque organist and composer Georg Böhm. To

reinstate refinement in this piece, Parry looked back to some of Bach’s Chorale

Preludes for inspiration. Structurally, the piece is likened to that of a Baroque

concerto – the appearance of the first line of the Chorale being ornamented. This

idea punctuates the irregular design of the piece, which reflects the tonal and

phraseological outline of the hymn tune. It is a deeply sensitive lament, which may

be considered to be Parry’s finest composition for the organ.

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THE CHOIR OF ST PAUL’S KNIGHTSBRIDGE

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Stephen Farr

ASSITANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Christian Wilson

ORGAN SCHOLAR Georgina Sherriff

The Music & Musicians of St Paul’s Knightsbridge

St Paul’s Knightsbridge maintains a regular professional choir of eight and the

services of both a Director (Stephen Farr) and Assistant Director of Music (Christian Wilson). The organ is by Henry Willis & Sons and dates from 1888. The musical repertoire, Sunday by Sunday, is diverse and often boldly ambitious: at the

Solemn Mass at 11 am there is always a choral mass setting and two seasonal anthems, one at the Offertory and the other during Communion. Full details of the music for each week – along with a programme note – is published in the service paper. The musicians also sing and play for weddings, baptisms, funerals and

memorial services at the church.

St Paul’s Knightsbridge is grateful to The Berkeley Hotel for its generous and neighbourly support of the music.

Parts of this service are © the Archbishops’ Council 2001.

The hymns are reproduced with permission under CCLE Licence No. 666560 The service is compiled and printed at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

For further information about the life of St Paul’s, please contact: The Parish Office, 32A Wilton Place, London SW1X 8SH

020 7201 9999

As part of our commitment to sustaining God’s creation, this service paper is printed on paper from sustainable forests,

and any waste paper will be recycled.

www.stpaulsknightsbridge.org