Public worship, and particularly music, can be mistakenly understood as ecclesiastical entertainment to “pull the crowds in.” It’s not. It is an offering to God.

Francis Potts in the 19th century hymn, “Angel Voices Ever Singing” expresses this truth as follows: “In thy house, great God, we offer of thine own to thee; and for thine acceptance proffer all unworthily, hearts and and minds and hands and voices in our choicest psalmody.”

Sung Evensong on the feast of St Peter and St Paul on Sunday the 30th of June, was a wonderful exemplar with music spanning several centuries, including Psalms sung to chants composed by our own Director of Music, Errol Girdlestone.

Many thanks to those people who financially support our sacred music and to the musicians who offer it to God. “All things come from thee O Lord, and of thine own do we give – including the talents and skills that we have been blessed with.

Here is a complete list of the music featured during this special service:

Preces and Responses sung to the setting by Richard Ayleward (1625-1669)

Psalms 149 and 15 sung to chants composed by Errol Girdlestone.

The Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis by Robert Cooke (1768-1814)

The Anthem “Happy and blest are they” from the Oratorio of St. Paul, by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847).