ServiceMusic
Music in the service of the church in the service of the world
The church's music today is a gloriously wide, rich and continuous spectrum both of musical styles and of literary types; the text of a particular item might tempt us to label it (say) a "hymn", but a modern music style partnering it might suggest "worship song".
The material here generally uses substantial, structured texts. But the music is across a wide range of styles. So to circumvent misplaced preconceptions, labels such as "hymn" and "worship song" are generally avoided.
See also the main list of psalms and the songs for solo and group use, several of which may be used congregationally.
The settings include the text, sometimes by other copyright owners. Some have kindly agreed for their material to be available here; in such cases the PDF link asks you to note, accept and abide by their copyright.
| Text | Score | Audio | Example | Occasions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texts by David Lee (1956– ) | |||||
| O magnify the Lord with me (I will bless the Lord at all times) | From Psalm 34 | ||||
| Let the peoples praise you (God of mercy) | From Psalm 67 | ||||
| How lovely is your dwelling place | From Psalm 84 | ||||
| Come let us sing for joy to the Lord | From Psalm 95 | ||||
| I give you thanks | From Psalm 138. Subconscious borrowing from Rachmaninov who had in turn… | ||||
| God indeed is my deliverer | From Isaiah 12: 2-6, and coloured with the liturgical (also Isaiah) Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) text. | ||||
| You were in the form of God | From Philippians 2: 5-11. Published: Worship Live, Stainer & Bell, Autumn 2003 | ||||
| Great and wonderful are your deeds and works |
MP3[1] Video[1] |
From Revelation 15: 3-4. Published: | |||
| Texts by Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926– ) | |||||
| As in that upper room | Communion | ||||
| As water to the thirsty | General, communion | ||||
| Be present, Spirit of the Lord | Pentecost | Tune style: classical. | |||
| Be present, Spirit of the Lord | Video[4] | Pentecost | Tune style: jazz. | ||
| Be with me through this day | Morning | Simple, three-part. | |||
| Be with us, Lord, who seek your aid | Simple, two-part echo/canon. | ||||
| Bless the Lord as day departs | Evening | Tune may be used classically or as a song. | |||
| Choirs of angels, tell abroad | Christmas | ||||
| Come and see where Jesus lay |
PDF (E♭/G♭)
PDF (D/F) |
(E♭/G♭)
(D/F) |
Easter | Either congregational or solo/group introit. | |
| Come now with awe | Christmas, Epiphany | Written because a suggested Finlandia pairing seems unconvincing. There is also a choir setting of this text to a different tune. | |||
| Come worship God Most High | General | Based on the Te Deum | |||
| Down from the windows, the windows of heaven | General | ||||
| From the night of ages waking | Video[1] | Easter, general | Setting written for St. Paul's, Haswell, Co. Durham: church extension. | ||
| Give thanks to God on high |
PDF (SATB)
PDF (unison) |
MIDI (SATB)
MIDI (unison) |
Dedication, saints days | ||
| God is King! The Lord is reigning | Based on Psalm 93. | ||||
| Here is the centre | Christmas, Epiphany | ||||
| Here on the threshold of a new beginning | Renewal; anniversary; dedication | For Revd. Stephanie Watson and parishes of Chilton and Cornforth, Co. Durham. | |||
| How shall we sing salvation's song? | Social justice. | ||||
| How silent waits the listening earth | Christmas | ||||
| In our darkness light has shone, Alleluia! | Christmas | Optional descant. | |||
| O God of our salvation | Published: Praise! Trust[3] | ||||
| O God whose thoughts are not as ours | Descant included. | ||||
| Our God and Father bless | Based on Benedictus. Published: Psalms for All Seasons[5] | ||||
| Rejoice in God, my heart | Based on Psalm 111 | ||||
| Soft the evening shadows fall | MIDI | Christmas | Optional double descants. Published: The Carol Book[6] | ||
| The heavens are singing | Based on Isaiah 44 and 55 | ||||
| The light of glory breaks | Christmas | ||||
| This day above all days | Easter, general | ||||
| To Christ our King | Video[1] | Setting written to celebrate the marriage of Mark Pritchard and Jan Bigland. | |||
| We believe in God the Father | Video[1] | Common Worship metrical (8 7 8 7 D) version of the creed. This setting, with optional descant, has a music-group bias. | Tune: Hill Meadows. Was scheduled for publication in Music for Common Worship, RSCM, Autumn 2000. | ||
| We believe in God the Father | See comments above. This setting of the text is hymn-like, with optional descant. | Tune: Finchale Priory. Tune in top 16 of St. Paul's Cathedral Millennium Hymn Competition, 1999. | |||
| With all who in this hallowed place | Dedication, renewal | Tune: Nevilles Cross. Commissioned by St John's Church, Nevilles Cross, Durham, for centenary (1996). Published in | |||
| Texts by Brian Wren (1936– ) | |||||
| Christ is risen! | via email | MIDI | Easter. | ||
| Ever-journeying Friend | via email | MIDI | Meeting for worship; commitment, baptism, confirmation. | Setting written to celebrate the baptism of Daniel Lee. | |
| To Christ our hearts now given | via email | MIDI | Meeting for worship; moving on, departure. | Setting written to mark the move of Revd. Michael Rusk from Durham to Leicester. | |
| We are your people | via email | MIDI | |||
| Texts by Martin Leckebusch (1962– ) | |||||
| As we meet in your presence | Dedication, mission, preaching, Bible | Words and music written for the re-ordering of St. John's, Nevilles Cross. | |||
| Christ is our freedom | via email | MIDI | Baptism | Setting written to celebrate the baptism of Jamie Song. | |
| For riches of salvation | via email | MIDI | |||
| How are we to sing our songs to you? | MIDI | Trouble, sorrow, lament, terrorism, natural disaster. | Has been used in response to Asian tsunami of December 2004
and during services following the London bombings of July 2005.
Published:
|
||
| You have won me with a love | via email | MIDI | Setting written to celebrate the wedding of Ken Chamberlain and Anne Ridley. | ||
| Texts by Kate Bluett | |||||
| Behold! The night is dark (Advent Journey) | Advent | ||||
| Beneath the surface there's a seed (The ages-endless love of God) | Hope | ||||
| Hosanna! (When horse and chariot sink into the sea) | Palm Sunday | ||||
| O Father, grower of the vine | Based directly on John 15:1-8 ("I am the true vine...") | ||||
| Say when will you restore us, Lord? (Ascension) | Ascension | Although we tend to view the Ascension as glorious, what might the disciples at the event have thought? This unusual text is deeply rooted in Acts 1:1–11, taking as its basis their uncertainty, bewilderment and sense of abandonment. | |||
| We work the soil | Workplace and worship | ||||
| You, who walked the city streets and highways | |||||
| Texts by Rosalind Brown | |||||
| O God of feast and festival | Eucharist, hospitality, service. | ||||
| Texts by Michael Sadgrove (1950– ) | |||||
| Great Lord and God |
Score Words/tune |
Marriage. | Tune: Archery Rise. Words and music written to celebrate the wedding of Rachel Firth and Andrew Watson. | ||
| Texts by Richard of Chichester (1197–1253) | |||||
| Day by day, dear Lord | Video | Tune: Lindors. Published in Singing the Faith.[10] | |||
| Texts by Reginald Heber (1783–1826) | |||||
| Holy, holy, holy! | Trinity, General | For churches who prefer the music of hymns to be "re-tuned" in modern styles | |||
| Texts by George Herbert (1593–1633) | |||||
| Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life (The Call) | General | ||||
| Texts by Walter Chalmers Smith (1824–1908) | |||||
| Earth was waiting, spent and restless | Advent, Christmas, Candlemas. | Tune: Travail. An unusually dark Christmas text; a useful antidote to some simplistic saccharine carols. | |||
| Texts by Andrew Pratt (1948– ) | |||||
| In the beginning God played with the planets | © S&B | Video | Creation; environment. | Published in | |
| Long ago God spoke to people | © S&B | Published: | |||
| We come by many different paths | © S&B | MIDI | Diversity, unity. | Written for St. John's and St. Margaret's, Durham. Available to CCLI holders via email. All other enquiries to Stainer & Bell. | |
| We see the eyes of Mary shine | Christmas. | Published: More than Hymns.[13] | |||
| What if the Babel consequence | © S&B | MIDI | Churches, computers and I.T. | Written for Revd. Stoker Wilson as Durham Diocesan I.T. Adviser. Available to CCLI holders via email. All other enquiries to Stainer & Bell. | |
| Texts by Marjorie Dobson (1940– ) | |||||
| A rich young man came seeking | © S&B | Video[14] | Tune: Redhills. Published in Singing the Faith.[10] | ||
| Texts by John Bennett (1920–1991) | |||||
| So free, so bright | MIDI | Pentecost | |||
| Texts by Isaac Watts (1674–1748) | |||||
| Bless, O my soul, the living God | Psalm 103. Tune: Wharton Park; published in In Melody and Songs.[15] | ||||
| From deep distress and troubled thought | Psalm 130. Tune: Coniscliffe; published in In Melody and Songs.[15] | ||||
| O bless the Lord, my soul | Psalm 103. Tune: Kingsgate Bridge; published in In Melody and Songs.[15] | ||||
| Your mercies fill the earth, O Lord | Psalm 119. Tune: Clayport Gate; published in In Melody and Songs.[15] | ||||
| Texts by Charles Wesley (1707–1788) | |||||
| Author of life divine |
(organ) |
Communion | |||
| Come, thou long-expected Jesus | MIDI | Advent, general. | Tune: Hill Meadows published in Wesley Music for the Millennium.[8] A brighter, more positive, tune than the more usual Cross of Jesus. | ||
| He loved, and gave himself for me | MIDI | Passiontide, Holy Week, Good Friday | Tune: Consicliffe published in Wesley Music for the Millennium.[8] | ||
| Jesus, the name high over all | MIDI | Tune: Whitwell published in Wesley Music for the Millennium.[8] | |||
| O for a heart to praise my God | MIDI | Forgiveness, grace. | Tune: Nevilles Cross published in Wesley Music for the Millennium.[8] | ||
| Thou, Lord, art rich in grace to all | MIDI | Tune: Nevilles Cross published in Wesley Music for the Millennium.[8] | |||
| Texts by Martin Luther (1483–1546) | |||||
| May God bestow on us his grace | Video[16] | Tune: Elvet Banks published in Lutheran Service Book.[17] | |||
| To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord | Video[16] | Tune: Elvet Banks published in Lutheran Service Book.[17] | |||
[1] Recording courtesy of Sam and Paula Denyer, St. Cuthbert's, Wells, Somerset
[2] Spring Harvest songbook, 2004, Spring Harvest, ISBN 978-1899-788484
[3] Praise! Online Resources, Praise Trust
[4] Recording gladly provided by First United Methodist Church of Midland, Michigan, USA
[5] Psalms for All Seasons, 2012, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, ISBN 978-1-59255-444-7
[6] The Carol Book, 2005, RSCM, ISBN 979-0570180639
[7] High Days and Holy Days, 2007, Canterbury Press, ISBN 978-1-85311-819-7
[8] Wesley Music for the Millennium
[9] First Flight Feathers: The Best of Worship Live, 2023, Sacristy Press, ISBN 978-1-78959-285-6
[10] Singing the Faith, 2011, Methodist Church, ISBN 978-184825067-3
[11] Sound Bytes, 1999, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-085249856-9
[12] Whatever Name or Creed, 2002, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-0-85249-874-3
[13] More than Hymns, 2015, Stainer & Bell, ISBN 978-0-85249-944-3
[14] Recording courtesy of Victoria Methodist Church, Bristol
[15] In Melody and Songs: Hymns from the Psalm Versions of Isaac Watts, 2014, Darcey Press, ISBN 978-1889079592
[16] Recording courtesy of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, USA
[17] Lutheran Service Book, 2006, Concordia Publishing House (LCMS), ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5