Sacred Music

SACRED MUSIC plays a primary role in the worshipping and missionary life of St John Henry’s. As a community conscious of our role to preserve and promote the treasures of the Anglican musical patrimony within the Catholic Church, the vast treasury of English sacred and choral music and hymnody is maintained and nurtured alongside the older Roman usage of Gregorian chant and plainsong.

As a parish, we take seriously the Second Vatican Council’s clear reminder, that:

The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action. - Sacrosanctum Concilium 116

From Monday to Saturday the Church’s daily public morning prayer of Mattins - psalms, canticles, hymn, and lections - is prayed in traditional English, and on Sundays the Solemn Mass, which is the highlight of our week as a parish family, is enriched by congregational, plainsong, and polyphonic settings of the Mass in English and Latin, together with anthems, motets, and hymns from the Anglican and Catholic traditions. Our monthly music list below gives you something of the flavour of our deep commitment to the ministry of sacred music within the life of the Ordinariate.

St John Henry’s is blessed to have in its possession a first-class relic of St Cecilia, early martyr of the Church, and patron saint of musicians.

He who sings well prays twice.
- St Augustine of Hippo

Our choirmaster and singers welcome interest in the opportunity to sing to the glory of God at St John Henry’s. The choir, made up of paid and volunteer singers, rehearse on Friday evenings and sing for all Solemn Masses, Evensongs, and other special services within the life of our parochial community. For further information please contact our Director of Music, Mr Scott Vannan.

Music List

16 NOVEMBER (TRINITY XXII) (33C)

Opening: Bright the vision that delighted (Redhead No.46) EH 372
Offertory: O thou, who at thy Eucharist didst pray (Song I) NEH 302
Communion: Sweet Sacrament divine (Divine Mysteries) NEH 307
Final: Christ, whose glory fills the skies (Ratisbon) NEH 234
Setting: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Missa Simplicior (Merbecke)

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER (CHRIST THE KING)

Opening: Hail Redeemer, King Divine (King Divine) NEP 614
Offertory: Crown him with many crowns (Diademata) CP 166
Communion: The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus) EH 147
At Exposition: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy) EH 318
At Benediction: O Salutaris Hostia (EH 330, Part 2) & Tantum Ergo (EH 326, Part 2)
Final: Lead on, O King Eternal (Lancashire) BCP 428

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER (ADVENT SUNDAY)

Opening: O come, O come, Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel) BCP 62
Offertory: Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling (Wachet Auf) EH 12
Communion: Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes (Bristol) EH 6
Final: Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley) EH 7
Setting: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (Mass XVIIa), Credo (Missa Simplicior, Merbecke)

SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER (ADVENT II)

Opening: The advent of our God (St Thomas) EH 11
Offertory: Hills of the North, rejoice (Little Cornard) NEH 7
Communion: Hark! a herald voice is calling (Merton) EH 5
Final: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry (Winchester New) EH 9
Setting: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (Mass XVIIa), Credo (Missa Simplicior, Merbecke)

SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER (GAUDETE SUNDAY)

Opening: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Gopsal) EH 476
Offertory: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed! (Crüger) EH 45
Communion: Come, thou long-expected Jesus (Cross of Jesus) NEH 3
Final: Thy kingdom come! on bended knee (Irish) EH 504
Setting: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (Mass XVIIa), Credo (Missa Simplicior, Merbecke)

SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER (ADVENT IV)

Opening: O come, O come, Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel) BCP 62
Offertory: The Angel Gabriel from heaven came (Gabriel’s Message) CP 242
Communion: Long ago, prophets knew (Personent Hodie) NEH 10
Final: Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley) EH 7
Setting: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (Mass XVIIa), Credo (Missa Simplicior, Merbecke)

Christmas Carolling

Every year, just before Christmas, our parish enjoys an evening of traditional carolling in downtown Victoria.

This is an important witness, at this special time of year, to remind the people of our city of the real meaning of the coming Christmas season. It also serves as an opportunity to bear witness to the beauty of our faith through the timeless music and theologically rich words of the carols we sing.