Gloria S280     Robert Powell (b.1932)

Sequence Hymn 480    When Jesus left his father’s throne –  Kingsfold

Offertory Anthem    Here is the little door    Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Text: Frances Chesterton (1869-1938)

Here is the little door
Lift up the latch, oh lift!
We need not wander more
But enter with our gift;
Our gift of finest gold
Gold that was never bought or sold;
Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;
Incense in clouds about His head;
All for the child that stirs not in His sleep
But holy slumber hold with ass and sheep

Bend low about His bed
For each He has a gift;
See how His eyes awake
Lift up your hands, O lift!
For gold, He gives a keen-edged sword
(Defend with it thy little Lord!)
For incense, smoke of battle red
Myrrh for the honored happy dеad;
Gifts for His children, terrible and sweet;
Touchеd by such tiny hands
And Oh such tiny feet.

Frances Alice Blogg Chesterton was an English author of verse, songs and school drama. Frances’ mother taught her and her sisters to think independently, having them attend London’s first kindergarten. She attended St. Stephen’s College for two years as a pupil teacher. In 1895, Frances began working as a secretary and administrator at the Parent’s National Educational Union. Throughout their marriage to G. K. Chesterton, Frances encouraged his writing, worked as his manager, keeping his appointment diary and accounts, hiring his typists, and negotiating on his behalf with publishers.

Sanctus  S129    Robert Powell

Fraction anthem S163    Robert Powell

Communion Anthem    Love came down at Christmas    arr. David Evans (1874-1948)
Text may be found at Hymn 84

David Evans was a Welsh musician, academic and composer. He was a pupil of Joseph Parry, whom he succeeded in the Music department at University College, Cardiff, where he was appointed a professor in 1908. Evans edited the revised edition of the Church of Scotland’s Church Hymnary in 1927. In that publication he combined an old Irish folk song with a versified English translation of an 8th-century Irish poem to produce the now widely known Christian hymn, “Be Thou My Vision”. One of his original hymn tunes, Lucerna Laudoniae, was used to set the words For The Beauty of the Earth. Aside from hymns, Evans wrote anthems and service music as well as many orchestral and choral works.

Communion Hymn 104    A stable lamp is lighted    Andujar