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On Saturday 18th July, beneath the Elizabethan timberwork of our chancel, we will celebrate Holy Communion according to the order of the 1559 Prayer Book, using Merbecke’s setting.
This will be a fitting way to give thanks both for the restoration of our church following the fire of 1576, and for the genius of Good Queen Bess in creating the Via Media - the Church of England.
We look forward to being joined the chairman of the Prayer Book Society, Bradley Smith, and shall be honoured to welcome as our preacher the Venerable Dr Tom Carpenter, Archdeacon of Chichester.
The setting was written by a little-known composer called John Merbecke using semi-rhythmical melodies partly adapted from Gregorian chant. It was republished during the nineteenth century and used in parishes until the liturgical changes of the 1970’s, and has a wonderful Tudor quality that somehow epitomizes the spirit of Anglicanism.
We hope to see you there.
