The following is but a summary of a most commendable and thorough article exploring the dangers of revising a classic text (in this case the General Confession of the BCP dating back to 1552) by Professor Samuel L. Bray of UCLA and Notre Dame schools of Law. For the full text of the article go to http://northamanglican.com/and-apart-from-your-grace-there-is-no-health-in-us/ “AND (APART FROM YOUR GRACE) THERE IS NO HEALTH IN US” WEIGHING THE MERITS OF A LITURGICAL … [Read more...]
Reflection on Holy Communion – with choral music.
The Lord's Supper, Nicholas Poussin From his Second Series of seven paintings on the Sacraments, painted in a style that is very consciously not Baroque, for his friend the French ambassador to the Papal Court, Paul Freart de Chantelou from 1644 to 1648. To access the audio. please click the following link https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/corpus-christi-reflection-on-anglican-understandings-of-the-eucharist Introit: Cibavit eos -- William Byrd (1540-1623) (Antiphon) … [Read more...]
Archbishop Welby really is very, very, sorry
Justin Welby prostrate in apology at the Sikh Golden Temple of Amritsar What should the world be expected make of someone who said that they were complicit in the bombing of a city, a massacre in India, offending gay people, had inadequately responded to child abuse, has white advantage and is systemically racist? Then again, how does it affect things when he explains that he is also very very sorry about all this? Does it change anything when the person announcing these things … [Read more...]
Why do we go to church? A Trinity Sunday Reflection with Choral Music
Adoration of the Trinity (Landauer Altar) Albrecht Durer, 1511, Kunst Historisches Musee, Vienna To hear the audio click on the link below: https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/trinity-sunday-reflection Introit: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, SWV 380 -- Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, daß er seinen eingebornen Sohn gab, auf daß alle die an ihn glauben nicht verloren warden, sondern das ewige Leben haben. For God so loved the world, that he sent his … [Read more...]
Choral Evensong in the Season of Easter with Sermon
To hear the service please click here https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/festal-choral-evensong-of-easter-with-sermon Hymn: The Strife is O’er arr. Michael Costello (b.1979)Robbie Marx, trumpet; Chris Schroeder, trumpet; Liam Hanna, french horn; Dave Day, trombone; Matthew Groves, bass trombone & Jeremy Lang, timpani. Jeremy Bruns, organ / arr by James Biery & Randy Adams Organ: Symphony no 4, op 32 IV. Romance, Louis Vierne, 1870–1937. (Only heard … [Read more...]
The First Prayer Book Royal Funeral: arranged by the Catholic Queen Mary for Edward VI
The First Prayer Book Royal Funeral: King Edward VI “Edward the sixth by the Grace of God King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and on earth under Christ supreme head of the Churches of England and Ireland and he migrated from this life on the 6th day of July in the evening at the 8th hour in the year of our Lord 1553 and in the 7th year of his reign and in the 16th year of his age”. So reads the inscription on Edward’s coffin as transcribed and … [Read more...]
Why follow the Anglican Way? A question answered in the writings of Dr Peter Toon
The Revd. Dr. Peter Toon (1939-2009) A long serving President of the Prayer Book Society and Editor of its Magazine WHY FOLLOW THE ANGLICAN WAY? The Anglican Way is both Ancient and Modern In religion what has been believed, taught and confessed for centuries and what has been prayed, tested and performed during two millennia is more likely to be a sound guide in our quests to find God than modern insights which pay no attention to “ancient wisdom.” In the Anglican Way, … [Read more...]
Richard Hooker on The Book of Common Prayer:
An extract from the "judicious" Mr Hooker's Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book V, There is here a notably heavy emphasis upon the priority of corporate over individual prayer, of the importance of the holy place where worship occurs and of the vocation and holiness of the minister/priest who conducts the worship. Extempore prayer in comparison with the written Common Prayer is very much deprecated Private and public prayer This holy and religious duty of service towards God … [Read more...]
The First Sunday of Advent – Reflection with Choral Music
The Three Wise Men, John La Farge (1835-1910) La Farge, whose work in stained glass was widely admired is commemorate on 16th December together with Ralph Adams Cram and Robert Upjohn The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent: ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the … [Read more...]
J. I. Packer on Revaluing the Book of Common Prayer
As we recall the great work and achievements of the late Professor J I Packer (image above from Regents College, Canada) who died in July this year, it is apposite to recall from the Society's archives this article first published in 2000: For Truth, Unity, and Hope: Revaluing the Book of Common Prayer (Comprising part of a very slightly edited version of an address first given to the Canadian Prayer Book Society It references the Canadian BCP of 1962 as well as the Book of … [Read more...]
Veterans Day – Reflection
To hear the audio please use this link https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/armistice-veterans-day-reflection Prelude and Postlude Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniter-Ordens, TrV 224 Richard Strauss (1864-1949) arranged by Gary Olson for brass quintet & organ with Christopher Schroeder, Trumpet; Robby Marx, Trumpet; Liam Hanna, French Horn; Lauren Casey-Clyde, Trombone; Matthew Groves, Bass Trombone, Jeremy Lang, Timpani & Katelyn Emerson, … [Read more...]
The Church’s sacramental ministry is not an optional extra
CHURCH TIMES Thursday 05 November 2020 The precautions in place in churches mean that there is no justification for suspending public worship, argues Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff Original Photo in the Church TImes: The Dean of York, the Rt Revd Jonathan Frost, celebrates holy communion in York Minster, in July, after the first lockdown restrictions in England were eased ALL churches are, once again, to be shut, and all public worship … [Read more...]
Locking Down Churches in England — Again
(A locked church entrance, from geograph.org.uk) All Churches are, once again, to be shut and all public worship ended in England by Government order, as part of the latest “lockdown”. The manner of announcing this adds to the rightful shock and dismay it will cause, as Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister did not even feel it a point worth troubling to mention when announcing the overall conditions of the lockdown from Downing Street. The news was merely slipped out later on the … [Read more...]
Choral Evensong with Sermon (Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude)
St Simon whose emblem is a fish (on the left) and St Jude, with a boat (on the right) All Saints Church Carleton Rode -- Rood screen The opening anthem: "A New Song" by Sir James MacMillan the words from Psalm 96:1-2, 13: O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the whole earth. Sing unto the Lord and praise his name, be telling of his salvation from day to day. For he cometh to judge the earth, and with righteousness to judge the world and the people with his … [Read more...]
Same Sex Unions: Pope Francis and Bishop Love
Same Sex Unions: Pope Francis and Bishop Love Some reflections It has been a curious week in regard to the topic of same sex unions which has so long excited contemporary culture. It opened with Pope Francis in Rome seemingly coming out in support of civil unions, in a documentary about him called “Francesco”, in which he observes “Homosexuals [are] children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out of the family or have a miserable life because of … [Read more...]
Choral Evensong with Sermon, Commemoration of Bishop Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
Choral Evensong with Sermon upon the occasion of the Commemoration of Bishop Jeremy Taylor, on 12 August, 2020, for the The Grosvenor Chapel in the Parish of Mayfair. Officiant and Preacher: The Revd. Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff To hear please click on the link below: https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/evensong-sermon-commemoration-of-bp-jeremy-taylor-12-august-2020 Prelude: the Corrente from Bach’s Cello Suite no. 1 in G major_BWV 1007, transcribed for the Viola, … [Read more...]
Evensong On the occasion of The Commemoration of John Mason Neale
(Photo from the Richard Mammana collection) https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/choral-evensong-with-sermon-commemoration-of-j-m-neal Evensong On the occasion of The Commemoration of John Mason Neale, 7th August, 2020 for the Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair Priest in Charge, The Revd Dr. Richard Fermer Officiant and Preacher, The Revd. Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff https://soundcloud.com/user-140188366/choral-evensong-with-sermon-commemoration-of-j-m-neal Opening Hymn: Of … [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...]
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...]
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 (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...]
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...]
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...]
Tuesday in Holy Week — audio and video resources
Entry into Jerusalem, Pietro Lorenzetti. (Assisi, Lower Basilica, San Francesco, southern transept) Public domain Holy Week ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his … [Read more...]
Some prayer resources for these difficult days
The Prayer Book Society offers the following short selection of resources at this time of crisis, when many of the Churches across the country have to be closed. More will be provided in the days ahead. To hear a short meditation with music for the day click here St John's Parish Savannah offers links to Morning and Evening Prayer with The PBS President Fr. Gavin Dunbar here as well as a selection of prayers from The Book of Common … [Read more...]
Choral Evensong – at such a time as this….
The Church of the Advent, Boston, (Photo: jonathunder GNU Free documentation) Choral Evensong for the Wednesday following the The Third Sunday of Lent To listen click here At this time of profound stress and dislocation both here and around the world, it is timely to be called back to the contemplation of the eternal verities of our faith which are so powerfully conveyed in the Anglican liturgical heritage of the Prayer Book It is a deeply poignant loss currently that,in the … [Read more...]