Sunday 14th February 2016 is the first Sunday of Lent this year, rather putting St Valentine’s Day in the shade liturgically. The Celebrant and Preacher is our Vicar, Canon Tom Honey.

Like on the Advent Sunday, today we start our 10.45am Mass by singing the Litany in Procession; the Litany published by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1544 is the earliest officially authorized vernacular service in English.

The Mass Setting is the plainsong Missa de Angelis.

Owing to Half-term, it’s likely that this Sunday we shall be singing the beautiful little Motet “The Call”, words of George Herbert’s poem set by organist and composer Richard Lloyd.

And next Sunday the Anthem will be the stirring “O Lord look down from Heaven” by Jonathan Battishill (1738-1801), one of the better 18th century English composers, who was also a skilled organist and concert tenor.

Isaiah 63 v15: O Lord, look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory:
Where is Thy zeal and Thy strength, Thy mercies toward me? Are they restrained?