Podcasts about choral evensong

Join The Revd Steve Morris, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. During Lent, which began this week, we sing the Kyries instead of the Gloria from our weekly mass setting at Choral Eucharist on Sunday mornings. This week's setting in church is the "Messe en l'honneur du Saint-Sacrement Op 130" by the Belgian composer Joseph Jongen. He wrote it in 1945 with a sense of intense relief having just learned that his son had survived internment in Buchenwald. Our reflection opens with St Bride's Choir singing the opening movement. The reading is St Matthew's account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by the devil which Steve, one of our associate priests at St Bride's, then reflects on. We close with another description of that time of temptation, "Forty days and forty nights" by George Hunt Smyttan which was first published in 1856. A new episode of this online act of worship is released every Sunday morning. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…horal-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week's Gospel reading which we hear describes St Matthew's account of the transfiguration of Christ. "O nata lux de lumine" by Thomas Tallis is a simple yet beautifully refined setting of two verses from a hymn for the feast of the transfiguration. It was published in 1575 in a volume of motets by Tallis and Byrd called Cantiones Sacrae which they dedicated to Elizabeth I. Alison recalls a story she heard the comedian Billy Connolly tell and reflects on how we can all at times be unable to see the wonder of what confronts us until our eyes are opened and we finally see. We close with a nineteenth century hymn text on the same theme of Christ's glory, "God of mercy, God of grace, show the brightness of your face." Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Our opening anthem – Everything holds together – is a song for the season of creation which was commissioned for St Bride's Choir by the Church of England's Environment Working Group. It is a setting composed by Ian Stephens of a poem by Malcolm Guite and is a timely reminder of our duty of stewardship to protect and enhance the environment in which we live. Alison reflects this week on how St Bride's observes a candle-lit hour of silence at the end of each working day which we call a Space for Silence – offering the gift of stillness and quiet calm in the heart of one of the busiest cities on Earth. We close with the hymn "For the beauty of the Earth" written by Folliott Pierpoint who was inspired to write the poem by the glorious view from a hilltop outside his home city of Bath in 1863. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. St Bride's Choir begins this week's reflection with Henry Purcell's setting of the Nunc Dimittis – those words of the aged Simeon when Christ was presented for the first time in the temple: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation..." They are sung or said at every Evensong service and we particularly hold them in mind on this, the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. St Bride's Choir sings Choral Evensong in church each Sunday at 5:30pm. Alison begins her reflection with a brief biography of Brigid of Kildare, our matron saint whose feast day also falls today. Like many early Celtic saints it can be difficult to disentangle fact from folklore, made more so in Bride's case as she shares her name with a Celtic pagan goddess. We close with the hymn "O praise ye the Lord!" sung to the rousing tune by Sir Charles Hubert Parry. The hymn is the closing section of his anthem "Hear my words, O ye people." Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Steve Morris, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. "How lovely are the messengers that preach us the gospel of peace" are the opening words of the anthem which begins our reflection this week. They are from Felix Mendelssohn's great oratorio "St Paul" which premiered in Düsseldorf in 1836. Mendelssohn played this gentle and beautiful movement to Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace in 1842. Today we celebrate the Conversion of Paul and our reading from Acts describes this and Paul's first sermon in Damascus which Steve then reflects on. We close with the hymn "We have a gospel to proclaim." A new episode of this online act of worship is released every Sunday morning. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…horal-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Saints, bodhisattvas and genii locorum, or spirits of place, are the names in various wisdom traditions given to guardian beings who protect, assist and inspire. So what does it mean to call on these sacred beings? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss the role of patron saints who are associated with churches and shrines, days and names. What powers might figures from Saint Mary to Saint Nicolas bring to us? How do we call upon them and how is their presence understood? Rupert and Mark explore the ways in which saints connect heaven and earth in individual lives, particular places and at various times of the year.ANNOUNCEMENTThe next episode of The Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues will be the 100th!In celebration, Rupert and Mark will talk with an in-person audience that people will also be available to join via live streaming.We will meet in the Parish Church of St John, Hampstead, on Sunday 15th February. The dialogue itself will start at 6.15pm and you are warmly invited to attend Choral Evensong at 5pm before. DETAILS OF TICKETS - https://buytickets.at/thesheldrakevernondialogues/2010539Rupert and Mark will consider the role of harmony, wholeness and hope in the modern world. Themselves inspired by the book, Harmony, co-authored by King Charles, they will inquire into new ways that are old of participating with the living cosmos, aided by science, poetry, and perennial wisdom traditions. How is diversity transformed by awareness of unity? How might the unfolding of life aid transformation? Spirit, imagination and intelligence much matter.

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The Epiphany anthem "Omnes de Saba venient" by Orlandus Lassus opens our reflection this week. Lassus was one of the masters of sixteenth century Renaissance polyphony. Born in modern-day Belgium little is definitively known of his early life although the story persists that he was kidnapped three times because of the beauty of his singing voice. His compositions most certainly match that reputed beauty. Our reading from the Gospel of St John includes the famous words of John the Baptist "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the signs of the world!" Alison then recalls a walking retreat to Winchester Cathedral during Holy Week when she was a theological student. We close with the famous hymn "Thou, whose almighty word." Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week's reflection opens with an anthem by the former King's Singer, Grayston Ives, which sets the poem "Listen sweet dove unto my song" by the 17th century priest and metaphysical poet, George Herbert. The beautiful first verse reads: "Listen sweet dove unto my song, And spread thy golden wings in me; Hatching my tender heart so long, Till it get wing and flie away with thee." Today we mark the Baptism of Christ and the reading is St Matthew's account of that event. Alison then reflects on the importance of baptism today as both a rite of passage and a moment of discovering one's true identity. We close, appropriately enough, with the hymn "When Jesus came to Jordan". Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Dr Jeff Lake, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The first reflection of the new year opens with Jonathan Dove's evocative setting of the poem The Three Kings by Dorothy L Sayers which begins and ends in melancholic mood and imaginatively depicts kings of very different ages and the varied gifts they bear. Sayers was best-known as a crime novelist and was considered among the four "Queens of Crime" of the first half of the twentieth century alongside Agatha Christie. On this Epiphany Sunday, Jeff begins his reflection with the poem BC-AD by the twentieth century British poem, Ursula Askham Fanthorpe, which considers the witnesses of the nativity who "Walked haphazard by starlight straight/ Into the kingdom of heaven." We close with the familiar Epiphany hymn "As with gladness men of old" written by William Chatterton Dix who wrote it, and many others, while recovering from a near fatal illness. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Dr Jeff Lake, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. A fifteenth century carol text "There is no rose" from the Trinity Carol Roll opens this week's reflection on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The setting is by composer Robin Hodson. Many with a particular interest in Brigid our matron saint and her Celtic Christian connections have an openness to pagan traditions which worries some. Jeff reflects on examples of those who navigate this well, remaining grounded in the gospels, and his own related personal experience of a work in Tate Modern by Máret Ánne Sara, a Sámi-Norwegian artist. We round off this week with the Advent hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel!" Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Our reflection opens with a another setting of the "Benedicite, omnia opera" – the great song of praise and blessing for all of creation that we traditionally sing in Advent. This week's is by the prominent English cathedral musician, Herbert Sumsion, who spent most of his career as Organist at Gloucester Cathedral. The gospel reading again centres on John the Baptist – the prophet who knew his role was to prepare the world for the appearance of the Messiah. However, Alison reflects on the uncertainty John felt as to whether Jesus, who he had heard of in his prison cell, was that Messiah. We close with the hymn "The Advent of our King" by the French hymnist Charles Coffin. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Steve Morris, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Our reflection for the second Sunday in Advent opens with the words of the Venerable Bede in a paraphrased setting of the text by Andrew Carter in his anthem "A maiden most gentle." The French melody and sparkling organ accompaniment captures the simplicity of the Christmas scene with answering upper and lower voice verses which unite in the words "Ave Maria." The reading this week recounts John the Baptist's foretelling of the coming of Christ who will baptise not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. Steve reflects on this intriguing character. We close with the Advent hymn "Come, thou long expected Jesus" by perhaps the greatest hymn writer, Charles Wesley. A new episode of this online act of worship is released every Sunday morning. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week's reflection opens with a setting of the "Benedicite, omnia opera" – the great song of praise and blessing for all of creation that we traditionally sing in Advent. It is composed by the English cathedral organist and choirmaster, Robert Ashfield, who served as organist and master of the choristers at Southwell Minster then Rochester Cathedral. Today is Advent Sunday which marks the beginning of the season of Advent. Alison reminds us in her reflection that it is a season when we are encouraged to engage with the dark realities of our world so that we can truly value the light that comes into the world at Christmas and recognise our deep need for it. We close with the seasonal hymn "Lo! He comes with clouds descending" by the great hymnist Charles Wesley, set to the famous tune, Helmsley. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Dr Jeff Lake, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Today is the feast of Christ the King which brings to an end the church's year as we proclaim Christ enthroned in heaven as sovereign king over all creation. The cycle then begins anew with Advent – that season of expectation and preparation for Christmas and the birth of Christ as a helpless baby, born to save us all. St Bride's Choir opens this reflection with Monteverdi's moving devotional motet "Christus, adoramus te" – "Christ, we worship and bless thee, because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world." After the Gospel reading from Luke, our associate priest Jeff considers the growing relevance the feast of Christ the King has had for him over time especially in an age when national power is increasingly elevated above moral responsibility. We end with one of our most popular hymns "Glorious things of thee are spoken" to the rousing tune, Abbot's Leigh. The text is by John Newton whose notorious early years included being captain of a slave ship; after his conversion he became an ardent abolitionist in association with William Wilberforce. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Stanford's most dramatic anthem – For lo, I raise up – opens this week's reflection. Written at the outbreak of the First World War, it sets Habakkuk's Old Testament prophecies, beginning with a depiction of the violence and destruction of war but ending with a message of hope, deliverance and the power of faith. The church's yearly pattern of observances and celebrations is approaching its end with the feast of Christ the King towards the end of this month when we triumphantly proclaim the universal sovereignty of Christ as supreme authority over all creation whose ultimate triumph lies at the end of time. In today's reading St Luke's gospel, Jesus foretells of that end and his second coming and Alison reflects on these challenging words. We end with the seasonal hymn "King of glory, king of peace" by the devotional poet and priest, George Herbert. We close with the patriotic hymn "I vow to thee my country" published in 1921 after the Great War finally ended. The tune, by Holst, is an adaptation from his Planets Suite and sets a two stanza poem by Cecil Spring Rice, who served as British Ambassador to the United States during the war. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week we mark Remembrance Sunday when we as we gather, along with others across the nations, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting for peace. In church, St Bride's Choir & Orchestra will perform Duruflé's Requiem as a mass for the fallen and this reflection opens with the first movement of that piece. Our reading is the famous passage from St John's Gospel proclaiming the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" and its particularly poignant assertion at this time that "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Alison then reflects on these themes of love, sacrifice and remembrance — from Christ's command to love one another to wartime memory and hope. We close with the patriotic hymn "I vow to thee my country" published in 1921 after the Great War finally ended. The tune, by Holst, is an adaptation from his Planets Suite and sets a two stanza poem by Cecil Spring Rice, who served as British Ambassador to the United States during the war. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The choir begins this week's reflection singing verses from Psalm 84 – "O how amiable are thy dwellings : thou Lord of hosts!" – to a chant by the English composer Sir Edward Bairstow. Bairstow was very much wedded to his dwelling place of Yorkshire, the county of his birth and where he served as Organist of York Minster for several decades until his death. He even turned down an offer to become Organist at Westminster Abbey and said of the suggestion that he follow a fellow composer to the United States that he would "rather go to the devil"! Our reading from Luke is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Alison reflects on how it reminds us that whenever we are tempted to view ourselves too favourably, we should remember that we — like all around us — are made from the same dust. We close with the hymn "Come down, O Love divine" which sets a fourteenth century text by Bianco da Siena – a member of the Order of Jesuates, a group of unordained men who followed the prescripts of St Augustine. The tune is Down Ampney by the great Ralph Vaughan Williams. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The late-Renaissance, English composer Thomas Weelkes – famed for his wonderful music and his wayward behaviour – set words from Psalm 132 in the jubilant seven-part anthem "O Lord, arise into thy resting-place" which the choir sings at the start of this reflection. He died in 1623 whilst visiting a friend in Fleet Street and so ended up being buried here at St Bride's. His tombstone can be seen in the main Crypt Chapel. Our reading is the Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge and Alison cautions against drawing the wrong conclusion from this in her reflection. We close with the hymn "O thou who camest from above" written by the Methodist and great hymnist Charles Wesley and sung to the tune Hereford composed by his grandson, Samuel Wesley. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Dr Jeff Lake, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Today in church we celebrate Harvest Festival and Creationtide at our two services so what better anthem to open this week's reflection than Haydn's "Achieved is the glorious work". It is the final movement of Part 2 of his most-accomplished work, The Creation, and closes the narrative of the sixth day of God's Creation. Jeff's reflection begins with the recollection of a Harvest Festival service which is one of the highlights of the year in his local parish in Lewes. We close with the seasonal harvest hymn "We plough the fields and scatter", a translation of an 18th century text by the Lutheran pastor, Matthias Claudius. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The choir opens this reflection with a beautiful double-choir setting of the Gloria from the mass "Missa Bell' Amfitrit' altera" by the sixteenth century composer, Orlandus Lassus. Although Flemish by birth, Lassus choose to live and work in Bavaria, first as a singer and then as Kapellmeister at the Bavarian Court, becoming the most prominent musician there. Our reading begins with a plea from the Apsotles to Jesus to "Increase our faith!" Alison reflects on this, how we respond to the gift of faith and those who help shape that response. We close with the hymn "Teach me, my God and King", another beautiful text from the English priest and poet, George Herbert. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Our reflection opens as St Bride's Choir sings the eight-part motet "For he shall give his angels charge over thee" from Mendelssohn's great oratorio Elijah. In our reading we hear the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus. Alison goes on to reflect on this and our attitudes towards money in our journeys of faith. We close with the hymn "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" to the Welsh tune St Denio with text by the Scottish pastor Walter Smith. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week we mark the feast day of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, with our reading and in Alison's reflection. In church, it is also Inspire! Sunday, when we celebrate and give thanks for St Bride's Church and our community of fellowship. St Bride's Orchestra will be accompanying the choir in a liturgical performance of of Dvořák's Mass in D. Dvořák was a devout man and he suggested the mass be subtitled “Faith, Hope and Love.” This reflection opens with our recording of the Kyries from the piece. We close with the rousing hymn "For all the saints", text by the priest William How, who was known for his work among the destitute in the London slums and among the factory workers in West Yorkshire. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week we mark celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross, an occasion on which we reflect not on the cross of Good Friday – the instrument of torture and death – but on the cross as the tree of life, hope and reconciliation. St Bride's Choir sings one of the most perfect anthems in their repertoire, Mozart's "Ave verum corpus", the beauty of which lies in the simple devotion and sincerity with which it sets the text. Alison reflects on the symbolism of the cross and a hymn dear to the hearts of many which the choir goes on to sing to close this week's Reflection – "When I survey the wondrous cross" – written by the prolific seventeenth century writer and priest, Isaac Watts. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon George Maxwell. Choral repertoire includes:Stephen Caracciolo (b. 1962), Preces & ResponsesHoward Helvey (b. 1968) in B flatJohn Tavener (1944-2013), A Hymn to the Mother of GodJohn Joubert (1927-2019), There is no rose of such virtue

Join The Revd Dr Jeff Lake, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. St Bride's Choir opens this week's reflection with "Tantum ergo sacramentum" – the last in a set of four motets by Maurice Duruflé which are all based on Gregorian chants. This motet has a meditative character and sets text from the hymn by St Thomas Aquinas – Pange lingua gloriosa – which we sing on Maundy Thursday. The closing Amen gently offers a sense of calm resolution. Jeff reflects on a very challenging reading from St Luke's Gospel and we close with John Bunyan's rousing ‘pilgrim song', "Who would true valour see". Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. St Bride's Choir opens this week's reflection with a setting of the poem "Come, my Way, my Truth, My Life" by the metaphysical poet and priest, George Herbert, composed by William Harris. Harris spent thirty years as organist at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. During the war, Harris helped with the musical education of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. Every Monday they sang alongside four choristers as part of a madrigal choir, to whom they donated jars of Argentinian honey as a treat! Prompted by the reading from Luke, the Rector, Alison, muses on how some high profile visitors to our memorial services struggle to understand that a reserved seat may not be for them. We close with the hymn "Just as I am" by the 18th century poet Charlotte Elliott, who wrote over 150 hymns many of which remain in use. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. The choir sings the first part of Handel's "Foundling Hospital Anthem", composed for a benefit concert to raise money for the Foundling Hospital children's charity founded by Thomas Coram. It sets text adapted from Psalm 41: Blessed are they that considereth the poor. The charity continues to this day as the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children and owns original scores of this anthem and "Messiah" which are displayed at the Foundling Museum in London and were donated to them by Handel. After a reading from the Gospel according to John, Alison recalls being vicar at a previous parish dedicated to St Bartholomew whose feast we mark today. Bartholomew is a new testament saint who is also known as Nathaniel and for his utter scepticism. Alison speaks of his remarkable journey from cynic to martyr. We close with the hymn "Be thou my guardian and my guide." Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Benjamin Britten was commissioned to write "A Hymn of St Columba" to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of a voyage by the sixth century Irish saint to the Scottish island of Iona, where he founded the famous Iona Abbey. The text is a hymn attributed to Columba and reflects the day of judgement. Britten instructs the performers to sing "with fire" mirroring Columba's missionary zeal and the portentous text. After the reading from Luke, Alison remembers her days as a lecturer and an exercise she ran with students asking them to summarise in a sentence the core of Jesus's message. We close with the hymn "Lord, for the years" written by Timothy Dudley-Smith – former Bishop of Thetford and noted hymnwriter who died last year – and set to a tune by Michael Baughen. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Steve Morris, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Edward Bairstow's sombre and majestic anthem "All mortal flesh keep silence", written for the lofty expanses of York Minster, begins this week's musical part of our reflection. After the reading from Luke, Steve reflects on the life and death of the Oxford martyr, Thomas Cranmer, and the need to fix our eyes on God at times of greatest turmoil. We conclude with the hymn "Be Thou my vision", originally written to honour the faith of St Patrick and set to the Irish folk tune now known as Slane. A new episode of this online act of worship is released every Sunday morning. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Following their session together at this year's Oxford Real Farming Conference – Land, Food and Spirit – SFT CEO, Patrick Holden, and renowned biologist and author, Rupert Sheldrake, reconnected to record an episode of the SFT Podcast. Rupert's impressive career started at Cambridge University where he studied Natural Sciences, before receiving a scholarship to attend Harvard University, studying History and Philosophy of Science. Rupert later returned to Cambridge where he gained a PhD in Plant Development. This eventually led him to India, where he worked at The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), to develop a more holistic approach to biology and science: “the mechanistic, materialist paradigm was too limiting and constricting” resulting in the idea of ‘morphic resonance'. Rupert has also authored more than 100 technical papers and nine books, including Science and Spiritual Practices. This episode takes a slightly different turn from our usual episodes, with less focus on agriculture, and more on the role of spirituality in science. During this episode, Patrick and Rupert discuss bridging the gap between spirituality and science, they ask whether farms could be considered ‘holy places', Rupert explains his theory of morphic resonance and talks about his involvement with the British Pilgrimage Trust. To find our more about Rupert and his work, visit https://www.sheldrake.org, and follow him on Instagram and YouTube. To listen to more SFT podcasts, featuring some of the biggest names in regenerative food and farming, head to our main podcast page. And to keep up to date with our news, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook and Bluesky. This conversation was recorded in April 2025.     Timestamps: 0.00: Intro 0.55: Welcome Rupert! 1.11: Patrick and Rupert at the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) 2025 2.20: Rupert's career beginnings 3.59: What is ‘morphic resonance'? 4.53: Is there a connection between morphic resonance and epigenetics? 6.43: Building a bridge between science and spirituality  8.58: The influences of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Rudolf Steiner 11.20: Rupert's spiritual journey 17.00: What is a ‘holy place'? 21.59: Choral Evensong and its place at conferences like ORFC 27.56: Rupert's involvement with the British Pilgrimage Trust 32.25: Could farms be considered ‘holy places'? 34.10: Rogation Sunday and patronal festivals 40.21: What's drawing people back – regardless of religion – to holy places and patronal festivals? 43.07: Revaluing the parish and local community 48.36: Saying grace at mealtimes  53.30: Thank you Richard 54.21: Outro  

Join The Revd Paula Hollingsworth, Chaplain of St Paul's Cathedral, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week we are most grateful to The Revd Paula Hollingsworth, Chaplain of St Paul's Cathedral, who will lead our service of Parish Communion in church and has recorded a reflection for us to use online. In light of the man in the parable in today's reading, Paula suggest we consider the exercise of wondering what might be our dying wish or regret or prayer. St Bride's Choir opens this week's reflection in words and music with the verse anthem "O where shall wisdom be found?" by William Boyce which sets text from Job. One of England's finest baroque composers, Boyce had the misfortune of being overshadowed by Handel. We close with the hymn "All my hope on God is founded" set to the stirring tune, Michael, by Herbert Howells, and translated from the German text of Joachim Neander by poet Robert Bridges. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. St Bride's Choir opens this reflection with the last from the set of Three Motets by Charles Villiers Stanford, "Beati quorum via" which sets Psalm 119: 1 – "Blessed are they whose way of life is wholesome: who walk in the law of the Lord." Today we celebrate the feast of St Peter and St Paul, two of the most significant saints in Christian history. Alison reflects on this rather unexpected pairing as although they likely died together, they had very different backgrounds and personalities and their relationship was not without its tensions. We close with the hymn "Ye watchers and ye holy ones" which has text by Athelstan Riley and is set to an uplifting German tune – Lasst uns erfreuen/ Let us rejoice. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Steve Morris, Associate Priest of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week's reflection begins in joyous mood with a setting of the Gloria by Jonathan Dove from his 'Missa brevis' – commissioned by the Cathedral Organists' Association in 2009. It is a spirited, lively dance, rhythmically reminiscent of Stravinsky. Our associate priest, Steve Morris, begins his reflection with the admission that he is from a family of people not very good at sitting still. We end with the hymn "Teach me, my God and King" – words by the great 17th century English priest and poet, George Herbert. A new episode of this online act of worship is released every Sunday morning. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. Our reading is the parable of the Good Samaritan and in her reflection Alison recalls her childhood stage triumph in re-enactment of the story. Although the parables are wonderful ways to engage children at their heart lie profound and uncomfortable truths for adults. The choir sings a setting of the "Magnificat" – the song of praise to Mary sung at every Choral Evensong service – by the twentieth century English composer Kenneth Leighton which he wrote for Magdalen College, Oxford. It is one of the finest settings of its time. We close with the hymn "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds" written by John Newton who converted to Christianity after an immoral life at sea which included captaining a slave ship. In time, he would join forces with William Wilberforce as an abolitionist. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. After the reading from Luke's Gospel, Alison reflects on when Jesus sent out his followers to proclaim his Kingdom as "lambs in the midst of wolves", and wryly recalls Gimli the Dwarf's line from The Lord of the Rings, "Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" The choir sings William Walton's "Set me as a seal" written for the wedding of the son of his lover, Lady Alice Wimbourne. It is surely one of the most perfect presents a newly married couple could receive. We close with another wedding favourite, the hymn "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven." Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. St Bride's Choir opens this reflection with the last from the set of Three Motets by Charles Villiers Stanford, "Beati quorum via" which sets Psalm 119: 1 – "Blessed are they whose way of life is wholesome: who walk in the law of the Lord." Today we celebrate the feast of St Peter and St Paul, two of the most significant saints in Christian history. Alison reflects on this rather unexpected pairing as although they likely died together, they had very different backgrounds and personalities and their relationship was not without its tensions. We close with the hymn "Ye watchers and ye holy ones" which has text by Athelstan Riley and is set to an uplifting German tune – Lasst uns erfreuen/ Let us rejoice. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of Julian of Norwich. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener. Choral repertoire includes:Stephen Caracciolo (b. 1962), Preces & ResponsesHerbert Howells (1892-1983), Sarum ServiceWilliam Mathias (1934-1992), As truly as God is our FatherStephen Paulus (1949-2014), Every soul who has willingly served

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of Athanasius of Alexandria. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon Ashley Carr. Choral repertoire includes:Philip Radcliffe (1905-1986), Preces & ResponsesWilliam Walton (1902-1983), Chichester ServiceĒriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977), O salutaris hostiaDavid Briggs (b. 1962), O Lord, support us

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Second Sunday of Easter. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon George Maxwell. Choral repertoire includes:Gerre Hancock (1934-2012), Preces & ResponsesGeorge Dyson (b. 1953) in DCraig Phillips (b. 1961), We walk by faith and not by sightHoward Helvey (b. 1968), Awake, arise!

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon David Boyd. Choral repertoire includes:Joel Martinson (b. 1960), Preces & ResponsesGerald Near (b. 1942), On Plainsong ThemesThomas Tallis (1505-1585), Lamentations of Jeremiah, Part 1William Byrd (1539/40-1623), Civitas sancti tui

This service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Cathedral Schola, observes the Feast of John Donne. The officiant and preacher is the Rev. Canon George Maxwell. Choral repertoire includes:Gerre Hancock (1934-2012), Preces & ResponsesOrlando Gibbons (1583-1625), Short ServiceEleanor Daley (b. 1955), Hymn to GodWilliam Byrd (1539/40-1623), Look down, O Lord

The Feast of Edmund of East Anglia November 20, 2024 St. John's, Lafayette Square Washington, DC

The Feast of Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer St. John's, Lafayette Square Washington, DC

September 18, 2024 St. John's, Lafayette Square Washington, DC

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a live broadcast of BBC Radio 3's Choral Evensong from the chapel of King's College, Cambridge. We hear from the programme's  Producer and Sound Supervisor, as well as from the Director of Music at King's - Daniel Hyde.The Choir of King's College, Cambridge BBC Sounds - Choral Evensong Gordon Stewart demonstrates the famous J J Binns (1855 - 1928) organ at Rochdale Town Hall. Showcasing the distinctive Binns sound and tonal design, Gordon explains the background to the great town hall organ tradition in the North of England.Gordon Stewart - Concert OrganistRochdale Town HallOrgan Specification - NPOREmail the Organ Podcast: theorganpodcast@rco.org.ukhttps://www.rco.org.uk/

"Wherever you are on the spectrum of human gender, God is big enough to meet you there." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Spiritual Formation, recorded live at Choral Evensong on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

The Rev. Rob Fisher, Rector of St. John's, Lafayette Square, speaks at a Service of Choral Evensong on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Israeli troops are set to advance into the Gazan city of Rafah, defying international pleas to reconsider. Some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering there. The UK House of Bishops is calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict. The Sunday programme spoke to Bishop of Worchester Dr John Inge.Sir Keir Starmer has defended his handling of the antisemitism row in his party as a Muslim candidate is withdrawn from the race in Rochdale. William Crawley speaks to Marc Levy - the chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Mohammed Shafiq, National Executive Committee member of PCS Union and Chief Executive and founding member of the Ramadhan Foundation which is one of the UK's leading Muslim youth organisations.Church buildings have opened their doors and held public events for centuries; Choral Evensong, Classical concerts and in more recent times, Lego building and Crazy Golf. But this year, many cathedrals across the country are taking it a step further and hosting 80s, 90s and 00s themed ‘Silent Discos'. Canterbury Cathedral recently hosted two sold-out nights with an attendance of 3,000 people at £25 per ticket. But not everyone agrees. Some critics have questioned whether this is an ‘appropriate' use of sacred space, and a petition campaigning against the events has amassed over two thousand signatures. So what is an ‘appropriate' use of a sacred space? William Crawley speaks to the Dean of St Albans, Jo Kelly-Moore.Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim and Linda Walker Production Coordinator: David Baguley Editor: Tim Pemberton

Reflection from Choral Evensong at St. John's, Lafayette Square; January 17, 2024

The Venerable Mike Besson, Archdeacon of the Diocese of West Texas, preaches his Second Sermon during our Patronal Feast Day Celebration of Choral Evensong. His text for this sermon is Romans 12.