In the Name of Christ we Worship is a new hymn written to reflect the past, present and future of St Bride's and dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the church's restoration and rededication following enemy bombing in 1940.

It is the work of one of the nation's most prolific hymn writers, Canon Michael Saward, whose last position as an Anglican priest was at St Paul's Cathedral, London, where he was Canon Treasurer. Canon Saward, who was born in 1932, now lives in retirement in Docklands, east London, from where he continues to write hymns for all occasions.

The St Bride's hymn has four verses and is colourfully and beautifully scripted, befitting the wide experience of a writer with more than 100 hymns to his credit. "I wanted to ensure that the hymn speaks of the past, present and future of the church, bearing in mind the devastation at St Bride's and the wonderful restoration and rededication," Canon Saward told me.

It will be sung to the tune Corvedale which was written by the late Maurice Bevan, one-time member of St Paul's Cathedral Choir, who died nearly a year ago. The tune is the melody used for the well-known hymn There's a Wideness in God's Mercy.

Canon Saward's works appear in 220 hymn books around the world. He and Jubilate Hymns will retain the copy right of the St Bride's work which will probably be heard in the church for the first time at a special service in November to mark the actual 50th birthday celebrations.

Saward's book, Christ Triumphant, published by Jubilate Hymns Ltd, contains 75 of the hymns which he wrote between 1962 and 2006. It is an absolute must for any hymn lover of whatever denomination. It can be obtained free from him at 6 Discovery Walk, London, EC1W 2JG. Please enclose £1 to cover postage and packing.