It’s June. After one of the wettest Mays on record, many of us are hoping and praying for a drier, sunnier summer. Many of us are also hoping and praying for the return of some of the freedoms we took for granted until March last year … More What a Wonderful World (Weiss & Thiele, arr. Brymer)
This well known poem was written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye in response to a conversation with a Jewish friend. The friend had fled Germany for America, and for obvious reasons was unable to be with her terminally ill mother when she died … More Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (ME Frye 1905-2004)
The liturgical theme for the fourth Sunday of Easter is always “the Good Shepherd” – who is of course Jesus. There are many references in the gospels of Jesus likening himself to the shepherd of a flock (in which we are the sheep), and of course there is the famous parable of the Lost Sheep … More Love Leadeth Me (Chris O’Hara)
This article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of our parish magazine, and was written against a backdrop of chemical attacks and reprisal bombings in Syria, protracted Brexit negotiations … More A Place at the Table
Is it only me that has a favourite compendium of sacred anthems? It’s “the blue and yellow one”, also known as “Anthems for Choirs 2: Twenty-four Anthems for Sopranos and Altos (unison and 2-part)” … More The Song of the Tree of Life – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
This motet was written by Bruckner for the dedication of the votive chapel in the cathedral of Linz, Austria, where he had previously worked as organist … More Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
This powerful aria is the penultimate song in Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas”. I discovered it one January morning. We were recently locked down for the third time, infection rates were out of control and UK daily death rates were higher than ever … More Dido’s Lament – H Purcell (1659-95)
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout Lent we have been pleased to offer you an appropriate Lenten hymn. Today is Easter Monday. Christ is risen – so here is a celebratory bonus hymn. Please join in with our singing group! … More Thine be the Glory
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout Lent we are pleased to offer you an appropriate Lenten hymn.
The sixth week of Lent is Holy Week and today is Easter Eve … More Rock of Ages
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout Lent we are pleased to offer you an appropriate Lenten hymn.
The sixth week of Lent is Holy Week, and today is Good Friday … More Day of wrath and day of wonder
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 