Solemnity of St George, Martyr

Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination
of Bishop Terence Brain

23 April, 2016

 

Entrance	(i) Ecce Sacerdos (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934) (ii) Bring to the Lord a glad new song (C.H.H. Parry/Michael Perry)
Kyrie	Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria	Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm	What marvels the Lord worked for us (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts	A Hymn to the Virgin (Benjamin Britten, 1913-1976)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Missal Tone (in English)
Agnus Dei	Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion	(i) Unless a grain of wheat (Bernadette Farrell) (ii) Soul of my Saviour (iii) Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion	O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1511)
Recessional	Praise to the holiest

 

A joyful celebration of twenty-five years of episcopal ministry. The Britten is a particular favourite of Bishop Terence’s, and we sang it once more at his request – the fourth time, after his installation in 1997, his 40th anniversary of priesthood in 2004 and the golden jubilee of priesthood a couple of years ago. Praise to the Holiest was Bishop Terence’s other request, and it was fitting too, I dare say, on the feast of St George to sing both Elgar and (the tune of) Jerusalem. Anyway, the music list as a whole, I thought, was an effective illustration of our trademark eclecticism.

Peter Jones’s refrain setting of the Gloria has been a staple of Catholic liturgical music in the English-speaking world since its composition in 1982 for the Papal Mass at Coventry Airport. The revised version for the 2010 Missal may even, I think, be an improvement on the original; we have used it successfully on many big occasions, including today’s. Peter died too young on 10 April, after a long illness. It was my sad privilege to sing at his funeral on 3 May. As I posted somewhere else, not many people have done more for music and liturgy in the Church in this country. May he rest in peace.