Today's hymn is a little different to the others this week. It is a joint effort by myself (a Roman Catholic) and Canon Michael Saward (until recently Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican) in London). I should add that we have arranged for Jubilate Hymns to look after the copyright for us!
Last Friday the clergy, servers, and choir of St Paul's Cathedral celebrated Choral Evensong in Westminster Cathedral, and last night the clergy, servers, and choir of Westminster Cathedral celebrated Solemn Vespers in St Paul's Cathedral. It is good when we worship God together!
Let earth rejoice! Let all creation sing!
Heav'n adds its praises to the Saviour King.
Around the throne the shouts of triumph ring.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To earth he came, a child so long ago,
Light in our darkness, grace and truth to show.
The Word of life, whose gospel now we know.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Despised, rejected, he was crucified;
Suffering Servant, on the cross he died;
True Lamb of God, salvation to provide.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
He rose again, and bursting from the grave
Reigns high in glory, who our sins forgave,
Now we rejoice, as those he came to save.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
So on this day, O Christ, our mighty King,
Let all the faithful, praise and honour bring,
Our voices blend with heaven's choirs to sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The late Abbot Alan Rees OSB composed a lovely tune for this hymn called 'Belmont Abbey'. I am hoping that Malcolm Archer (who used to be Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral prior to moving to Winchester College) will be composing a tune for my latest hymn which is entitled 'Jesus, Son of God and Mary'. This will maintain the link between Westminster Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral.
2 comments:
I'd love to hear Alan's tune!
It's the set tune to the hymn (No 272) in Hymns Old & New (God is good; God is truth; God is beauty: Praise him). I know that St Paul's Bookshop stocks it.
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