Songs of Praise

Back in July a fund raising auction was held at St George’s and I was lucky enough to be the highest bidder to choose the hymns for a Sunday Eucharist service. I have so many favourites it is not so much about the hymns to select but which ones could I possibly leave out.

As Jane Rice-Oxley has been gathering poems for inclusion in the new St George’s book I thought I would write about my hymn choices and reasons in verse. The poem ‘Hymns for a Service’ is reproduced here.

I was the highest auction bidder
To choose the hymns at Church
Keen not to overlook a special one
Through the hymn books I did search.

There really are so many
Just six are so hard to select,
Upon the reasons for my choices
I spent some time to reflect.

I started with a modern hymn
I think one of the very best
Shine Jesus Shine reminds of family times
That stand out above the rest.

Then school came into focus
With Praise My Soul and bells that ring
Remembering school assemblies
Where only girls did loudly sing.

When I hear O Jesus I have Promised
I think of baptism and confirmation
Morning Has Broken prompts sixties memories
Of times that changed a nation.

Next Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
My favourite one of all
Then finally Jerusalem
For Queen Country and St George!

The appointed day for the service was Sunday October 26th and afterwards I had feedback from many members of the congregation on that day saying how much you had enjoyed my choices. It was lovely to conclude the service with Elgar’s haunting Nimrod from the Enigma Variations played on the organ, another favourite piece of music of mine.

All this has prompted me to write an additional verse as follows:

You seemed to know them very well
I’m pleased you liked my choices
And I enjoyed the whole experience
To rejoice, and hear uplifted voices.

Thank you to Father Mike for making the original auction lot available (even if we can’t sing them every week!) and look out for that poem book.

Linda Wainwright

•The latest St George’s Poem Book is now published and available from Jane Rice-Oxley, price £5.