This article first appeared in the July 2022 issue of our parish magazine: At first glance, this may seem to be an odd choice for this month’s article. Taken from the musical Sweet Charity, the scene featuring this song is widely thought to be a pastiche on west-coast American hippie pseudo-religious cults of the mid-sixties. … More Rhythm of Life – Coleman & Fields
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)
This article first appeared in the May 2022 issues of our parish magazine. That’s a big jazz-hands gospel-style “A-men!” It’s not a refined English “ah-men”. This is a joyous song in the American gospel tradition. It encourages us to celebrate and give thanks for all the small blessings in life – a sunny day, the … More Sing Amen (Stuart Overington 2018)
This article was written for the April 2025 issues of our parish magazine: I have written before about Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” (September 2024), but this version has new lyrics, written by Kelly Mooney: A crown of thorns placed on His head, He knew that He would soon be dead, He said did you forget … More Hallelujah! (Cohen, arr. Rickley)
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
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
Back in the autumn of 2024 I was trawling the music filing cabinet drawers looking for inspiration for anthems to take us through Advent. That’s when I rediscovered “Dance, Little Lady”, written by our very own Rev Debby Plummer, and perfect for the third Sunday, on which we remember Mary. Jeremy had introduced this song … More Dance, Little Lady (D Plummer)
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)
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.
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)
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 