Inspire! Sunday Service

Sunday 24th September, 2023, at 11:00 am

On Sunday 24th September we are inviting all our congregation members, friends and supporters past and present, and everyone else who loves St Bride’s, to join us in church for a wonderful celebratory occasion – the annual Inspire! Sunday service.

The event is an excellent opportunity to listen to the glories of St Bride’s Choir and Orchestra and also to raise a glass of bubbles after the service to toast all that is special about St Bride’s and its people, and to give thanks to God for his many blessings.

Congregation in church and enjoying refreshments
 

Music

We are delighted and grateful that the St Bride’s Orchestra will be accompanying the choir for this service in a liturgical performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Mass in D.

This work was commissioned by Dvořák’s friend, leading architect and patron of the arts, later the founder and first president of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Josef Hlavka. Hlavka had a new chapel built at his summer residence, a castle in Luzany in Western Bohemia, and he asked Dvořák to write a new mass for its consecration which took place on September 11, 1887.

More used to large choral and orchestral forces, Dvořák seems to have genuinely enjoyed the process of writing for the smaller and more intimate venue:

“I have successfully completed the [Mass], and I am very pleased with it. I believe it is a work that will fulfil its purpose. Up to now I wrote works of this kind only on a large scale and for a large number of performers. This time, however, I have written for only a modest presentation, and still I dare to claim that my work has turned out well.” – Antonín Dvořák

PPla

Plaque commemorating Dvořák at Lužany Castle

Typically folk-like, more lyrical and prayerful than dramatic, its character has often been described as pastoral, reflecting Dvořák’s love of nature and evoking the tranquil countryside surrounding Hlávka’s chateau as well as suiting the more modest performing forces then available.

Originally conceived with (a highly ingenious) organ accompaniment, the slightly more elaborate version for orchestral accompaniment was created for his London publisher who was concerned that no choir will be interested in just organ accompaniment!

Nominate your favourite hymns

We are once again taking a risk on democracy and have decided to invite you to vote for your four favourite hymns. The winning four will be sung at the service.

The 2022 winners were: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; I vow to thee my country; My song is love unknown; and All my hope on God is founded.

Either fill out one of the forms available at the back of church or email your four hymn choices to jennifer.spencer@stbrides.com by Sunday 17th September.

The service launches our busy Autumn period in celebratory mood as we prepare to move through the seasons of Thanksgiving and Remembrance in preparation for Advent & Christmas.

A pre-recorded version of this service will be made available online here, at the service time, and on our pages at FacebookYouTube and SoundCloud.

congregation sitting for service

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