Evensong upon the Feast of St Benedict of Nursia Abbot of Monte Cassino, c. 540 The Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair London Officiant and preacher: The Revd Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff Introit : Venite adoremus, Mode VII Psalm 27, 10-16 Dominus illuminatio ; Lessons: Proverbs 2:1-9 ; Luke 14:27–33 Preces and Responses, Radcliffe; The Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, Howells in B minor The Anthem: Lord I have loved the habitation, Tomkins Recessional Hymn: Rendez à … [Read more...]
American Independence began with an act of free speech.
The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1819 June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843, “The Painter of the Revolution” Born in Lebanon, Connecticut, to Jonathan Trumbull and Faith (née Robinson) Trumbull. His father served as Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784. He entered the 1771 junior class at Harvard College at the age of fifteen and graduated in 1773. After services as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, he travelled to London, where upon an introduction from … [Read more...]
A Reflection for the Feast of St Thomas
St Thomas' Basilica Cathedral Chennai A Reflection by Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff for the Grosvenor Chapel in the Parish of Mayfair, for the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, remembering also St Elizabeth Queen of Portugal and the distinguished ecclesiastics of the Venn family. The music comprises the Agnus Dei from the Missa “Delectus Meus” by the Portuguese composer Filipe de Magalhães A setting of Psalm 149 O Praise ye the Lord by Thomas … [Read more...]
Readings, Sermon and Liturgical Resources for the Third Sunday After Trinity
The Readings 1 Peter 5:5-11 All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that … [Read more...]
A Reflection — from the Grosvenor Chapel
Above: The Holy Roman Emperor Frederic II with Al-Kamil the Sultan of Egypt This short reflection: https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/meditation-for-evening-of-26th-june-grosvenor-chapel by Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff features music performed by the Choir of the Grosvenor Chapel and opens with one to the Chandos Anthems by Handel: "In the voice of Praise and Thanksgiving". The reflection itself touches upon the life of St Edmund of Abingdon (1175-1240), who was … [Read more...]
First Sunday after Trinity – Readings for the day and Sermon
The Rich Man and Lazarus, Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588-1629) A Sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity 14th June 2020, The Revd. Fr. Gavin Dunbar Rector, Saint John’s Church, Savannah O Lord, my trust is in thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in thy salvation: I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me. Ps 13:5,6 We are just past the midpoint of the Christian year. From Advent to Trinity we have rehearsed the story of the Son of God’s becoming … [Read more...]
Audio Recording of Liturgy for Whitsunday
Liturgy with Procession for The Day of Pentecost Whitsunday Missa “Dum complerentur" Tomás Luis de Victoria (c1548-1611) at The Church of the Advent, Boston / May 31, 2020 With music from the Sound Archive https://soundcloud.com/mark-dwyer-2/20200531-sunday-mass-webcast The Rev’d Douglas Anderson, Celebrant The Rev’d Jay C. James, … [Read more...]
Sermon for Pentecost, Whitsunday – St John’s Savannah
A Sermon for the feast of Pentecost, or Whitsunday Sunday By Fr Gavin Dunbar, Rector, and PBS USA President 31st May 2020, at Saint John’s Church in Savannah ... with many other words did [Peter] testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2:40 Pentecost bursts on the disciples of Jesus with the sound of a mighty rushing wind – the power of the storm-wind, the untameable hurricane, terrifying and exhilarating all at … [Read more...]
Facebook decides the Devil is real & needs their protection
In a curious turn of events, Facebook blocked promotion of a post for the Feast of St Dunstan on the PBS USA facebook page Facebook blocked this on the following grounds : "it uses an image or video that contains shocking, sensational, or excessively violent content" Evidently, the problem was the mediaeval manuscript illustration above (on velum), showing the saint (in a much celebrated episode) evicting the Devil from his hermitage where he had come to tempt him, … [Read more...]
Soothsayers, Magic & the end of Fanaticism: the case for Bishop Butler
Canon Macdonald-Radcliff reflects upon a week that began with the Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury and considers the relevance of Bishop Butler's thought to the current pandemic and our responses to it. Please use the link below: https://soundcloud.com/mark-dwyer-2/20200529-daily-meditation-webcast Please follow this … [Read more...]
The Feast of St Bede
The Venerable Bede from a manuscript in the British Library From a Letter on the Death of the Venerable Bede By St Cuthbert (Nn. 4-6: PL 90, 64-66) On Tuesday before the feast of the Ascension, Bede’s breathing became labored and a slight swelling appeared in his legs. Nevertheless, he gave us instruction all day long and dictated cheerfully the whole time. It seemed to us, however, that he knew very well that his end was near, and so he spent the whole night giving thanks to … [Read more...]
Sermon for the Sunday after Ascension Day
Hans (Suess) von Kulmbach, 1513 (born c. 1480 in Kulmbach, Franconia, died. c. 3 December 1522 in Nuremberg), He was the artist who created the Kraków St John's Altar. Preacher: The Revd. Fr Gavin Dunbar St John's Church Savannah If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.1 … [Read more...]
The Feast of St Dunstan – A reflection
St Dunstan takes the Devil by the nose.... Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff reflects upon the life of this 10th Century Archbishop of Canterbury and the way in which his biography later became hotly contested terrain, used and interpreted in very different ways by polemicists of the Roman Catholic church as well as the High and Low church factions of the Church of … [Read more...]
Fifth Sunday After Easter – Additional Liturgical Resources
Above: Colonel John Lemon, MP of Truro (1754 - 1814) (Composer of the Psalm Chant heard in the Evensong linked below) https://soundcloud.com/mark-dwyer-2/20200513-choral-evensong-webcast Here painted by Gilbert Stuart (North Kingstown, Rhode Island 1755 - Boston 1828), circa 1780. Date circa 1780 - 1793 Colonel Lemon was educated at Truro Grammar School and Harrow. He became a lieutenant colonel in the Horse Guards before being elected to Parliament as a Whig MP Lemon was an amateur … [Read more...]
Fifth Sunday After Easter (Sixth of Easter) Rogation Sunday
Above: Blessing of the Fields for a good harvest and walking of the parish bounds during WWII Book of Common Prayer Collect and Readings for the day and Sermon The Collect. O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The … [Read more...]
The Fourth Sunday after Easter
The Fourth Sunday after Easter For an Audio webcast of The Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday After Easter (From The Church of the Advent Boston) use the following link https://soundcloud.com/mark-dwyer-2/20200510-sunday-mass-webcast Vidi Aquam – Tomás Luis de Victoria, (c1548-1611) Paschal Kyrie - John Sheppard (c1515–1558) The French Mass – John Sheppard O Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house - Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo … [Read more...]
The Third Sunday After Easter Sunday
The Third Sunday after Easter The Collect Almighty God, who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle 1 St. Peter 2.11-17 Dearly beloved, I beseech … [Read more...]
Prison Chaplains and the Corona Virus Pandemic – a view from London
The chapel of HMP Wormwood Scrubs a prison built in 1874 (mainly for prisoners awaiting deportation) to a design by the military engineer Edmond du Cane (c.f. https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/historic-buildings/art66719) PRISON CHAPLAINS AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC By John Plummer a member of St George's Parish, Mayfair and Coordinator of the London Prisons Mission (This article was originally published in the Parish bulletin and while not … [Read more...]
A Reflection on the Occasion of the Feast of St Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo
Above: St Monica, the mother of St Augustine of Hippo by the Spanish mannerist painter of Toledo Luis Tristán de Escamilla 1585-1624 (The Prado) A Reflection by Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff with the Choir of the Church of the Advent Boston In recent days, as we follow the Church Calendar through the Festal season of Easter we have had occasion to think quite a bit about the early church in North Africa, with Cyril of Carthage coming up in my last reflection, as he grappled so … [Read more...]
If a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully….
Christ the Good Shepherd c.1540 Lucas Cranach the Younger Angermuseum, Erfurt A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) 26th April 2020, at Saint John’s Church in Savannah From the FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE 2:19 i . In the ancient world slaves supplied needed muscle in mines and fields, skilled labor in workshops and households. They occupied positions of responsibility as managers, doctors, … [Read more...]
Second Sunday After Easter Sunday liturgical resources
Above: The Supper at Emmaus Rembrandt, 1648, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, London The Second Sunday after Easter Sunday For an Audio webcast of The Liturgy for the Second Sunday After Easter (From The Church of the Advent Boston) With Sermon by the Revd. Dr Jeff Hanson Click here For the Friday reflection on St Cyprian and the Early Church in a time of Plague (Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff) Click here St John's … [Read more...]
The First Sunday after Easter
For an Audio webcast of The Liturgy for the First Sunday After Easter with Sermon By Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff (From The Church of the Advent Boston) Vidi Aquam -- Mode VIII Kyrie in D –– Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) Communion Service in D Major, Sir Edward Bairstow (1874–1946) as also the motet, Let all mortal flesh keep silence The Gradual: Psalm 114, Festal Setting and the setting of the Regina coeli à 8, by Tomás Luis deVictoria … [Read more...]
Allelulia, Christ is risen…..
(The Church of the Advent, Boston above) To hear the Easter Sunday Webcast CLICK HERE Holy Week EASTER DAY AT Morning Prayer, instead of the Venite, the following shall be said, and may be said throughout the Octave. CHRIST our Passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast, Not with [the]* old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness : but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7. CHRIST being … [Read more...]
The Liturgy of Good Friday
(St George's Hanover Square) To hear the opening of the St Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach as traditionally sung in the parish on this day Click here Holy Week GOOD FRIDAY The Liturgy of Good Friday audio is available HERE A Sermon for Good Friday is available HERE (further listings are also placed below the Collects and Litany) The Collects: ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold … [Read more...]
Good Friday Sermon
Good Friday Sermon by Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff My God, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me… Psalm 22, 1 In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost…. AMEN Today we come to the darkest point in the church’s liturgical calendar In a bare and somber church intentionally emblematic of the utmost earthly desolation --as is uniquely appropriate to that terrible moment which we have just heard narrated in the Gospel, namely the … [Read more...]