He Shall Feed His Flock – G F Handel (1685-1759)

Each year, midway through the Easter season, we celebrate Jesus as the Good Shepherd. You’ll know when it’s Good Shepherd Sunday as the hymns all have a distinctly sheepy theme. There are a few “go to” anthems for that day too, including various settings of Psalm 23, as well as “He Shall Feed His Flock”. … More He Shall Feed His Flock – G F Handel (1685-1759)

Lenten Anthems

Somehow we missed giving you this beautiful anthem by Ralph Vaughan Williams on Passion Sunday! we’re truly in the Easter season now, but the revelatory words of Revelation 22 are still appropriate: St Margaret’s Church Prestwich holds CCLI licences CCL 79250, MRL 775231 and 466111 for music streaming and One Licence M-40120 for music streaming. … More Lenten Anthems

Music for Easter Monday

Hallelujah! He is risen! Our parish choir sings for you the words of James F Rickley, setting the Easter story to Leonard Cohen’s timeless classic, “Hallelujah” St Margaret’s Church Prestwich holds CCLI licences CCL 79250, MRL 775231 and 466111 for music streaming and One Licence M-40120 for music streaming. • Hallelujah (Easter lyrics) © 1985 … More Music for Easter Monday

Love is the Touch of Intangible Joy – Words Alison Robertson (b. 1940), Music John Bell (b. 1949)

Many commercial traders consider February to be the month in which we celebrate romantic love – although records show that the story of the real St Valentine have little to do with the chocolates, flowers and soppy greetings cards we are encouraged to buy. St Valentine lived in the third century, and as well as … More Love is the Touch of Intangible Joy – Words Alison Robertson (b. 1940), Music John Bell (b. 1949)

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, and so Carol and Tom sing for you the Lent hymn “Forty Days and Forty Nights”: St Margaret’s Church Prestwich holds CCLI licences CCL 79250, MRL 775231 and 466111 for music streaming and One Licence M-40120 for music streaming.

The Crown of Roses – words Pleshcheev (1825-93) tr. Drearmer, music Tchaikovsky (1840-93)

Did you know that carols, like puppies, are not just for Christmas? According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a carol is a song characteristically of religious joy, associated with a given season, with uniform stanzas or verses that may alternate with a refrain. The musical emphasis is on melody and rhythm rather than harmony. Interestingly, the … More The Crown of Roses – words Pleshcheev (1825-93) tr. Drearmer, music Tchaikovsky (1840-93)