St. Anne's, Soho - like any church or organisation - is difficult to sum up in a few words. We probably have as many views as we have members of the congregation... but if you want to hear some of the words which shape our particular voice then the sermons given by our clergy (and visiting clergy) are a good place to start.
Westminster Abbey 12 July 2009 - Fifth Sunday after Trinity - Evening Service 6.30 pm
Conducted by The Reverend Graeme Napier, Minor Canon of Westminster.
William III (1650–1702)
All stand as the Officiant enters. All remain standing for the Introduction.
All sing the Hymn:
Lord, while for all mankind we pray
of every clime and coast,
O hear us for our native land,
the land we love the most,
O guard our shores from every foe;
with peace our borders bless;
with prosperous times our cities crown,
our fields with plenteousness.
Unite us in the sacred love
of knowledge, truth, and thee;
and let our hills and valleys shout
the songs of liberty.
Lord of the nations, thus to thee
our country we commend;
be thou her refuge and her trust,
her everlasting Friend.
St Peter 242 NEH 491 NEH Alexander Reinagle (1799–1877) John Wreford (1800–81)
All sit for the Reading: from Joshua 1
All stand to say the Psalm:
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion: then were we like those who dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter: and our tongue with songs of joy. Then said they among the nations: ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’The Lord has indeed done great things for us: and therefore we rejoiced. Restore again our fortunes, O Lord: as the river beds of the desert. Those who sow in tears: shall reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed: will come back with shouts of joy, bearing their sheaves with them. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.Amen. Psalm 126
All sit for the Reading: Matthew 21: 1–17
All stand to say the Canticle:
A Song of the Heavenly City
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light the nations shall walk, and the rulers of the earth shall bring their glory.
Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; they shall bring into it the glory and honour of the nations.
I saw the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
And either side of the river stood the tree of life, yielding its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there, and his servants shall worship him; and they shall see God’s face and his name shall be on their foreheads.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
All sit for the Address by The Reverend David Gilmore , Rector, St Anne’s, Soho.
All stand to sing the Hymn
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight,
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might,
be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower,
O raise thou me heavenward, great power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
be thou my inheritance now and always,
be thou and thou only the first in my heart,
O sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Slane 339 NEH Irish, c8th century, translated by Mary Byrne (1880–1931) traditional Irish melody and versified by Eleanor Hull (1860–1935)
All kneel or sit. The Reverend Peter Boyland, Assistant Curate, The Tove Benefice, leads the Prayers:
At the end of each petition there is said:
Lord, in your mercy;hear our prayer.
The prayers conclude with the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
All stand to sing the Hymn:
Thy kingdom come! on bended knee
the passing ages pray;
and faithful souls have yearned to see
on earth that kingdom’s day.
But the slow watches of the night
not less to God belong;
and for the everlasting right
the silent stars are strong.
And lo, already on the hills
the flags of dawn appear;
gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,
proclaim the day is near:
The day in whose clear-shining light
all wrong shall stand revealed,
when justice shall be throned in might,
and every hurt be healed;
When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,
shall walk the earth abroad:
the day of perfect righteousness,
the promised day of God.
Irish 500 NEH Frederick Hosmer (1840–1929) from Powell’s A Collection of Hymns, Dublin 1760
All remain standing for the Blessing. the Wreath-Laying
A wreath of orange lilies and Irish yew is laid upon the tomb of William III and Mary II, his Queen and Co-Monarch. If you wish to view their place of burial, please follow the Clergy to the South Aisle of the Lady Chapel. The remains of William and Mary rest in the vault beneath the Chapel.
As you pass over their remains, you may like to use this prayer silently:
Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them.
The clergy recite the Funeral Sentences and Psalms which were sung at the funeral of King William in March 1702.
The Organist improvises on traditional Irish melodies. Please be guided by the Honorary Stewards to leave the Abbey by the Great West Door.
A retiring collection will be taken. It will be divided equally between The Lord Mayor’s Charity: for dementia (improving the quality of life of those affected by dementia) and the work of the Abbey. If you are a UK tax payer and would like to take advantage of Gift Aid please ask for a Gift Aid envelope.
Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (Europe) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no1040288. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.
