Ripon Cathedral - 14

We are now standing in the choir. The choir is where daily services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer take place in an unbroken round of prayer going back to the church's foundation.



The choir stalls were made by a team of local carvers between 1489 and 1494. Each stall in the back row has a lifting seat, with an ornately carved ledge on the underside called a misericord,designed for clergy to lean against when standing during long services.

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.