Choral Eucharist: Coronation Celebration

Setting: Festal Gloria in B flat – Charles Villiers Stanford
Psalm: 31
Sermon: The Revd Steve Morris, Assistant Priest of St Bride’s
Anthem: Behold, O God, our defender – Herbert Howells
Organ Voluntary: Tuba Tune – Norman Cocker

Download Order of Online Service (pdf)

The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort takes place at Westminster Abbey this week, and St Bride’s is marking this historic occasion with specially themed Sunday services.

The readings, psalm and prayers reflect the theme as will the music sung by the St Bride’s Choir.

Stanford’s Festal Gloria in B flat was written for the coronation of King George V in 1911 and became so popular that it was used again at the coronations of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

The anthem Behold, O God, our defender by Herbert Howells was commissioned for the Coronation Service of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 where it was performed by mass choirs with full orchestra. The anthem was written as a reflective prelude to the service and our smaller choir with the original organ accompaniment is perhaps more fitting to Howells’ original intent.

The coronation theme continues at our 5:30pm service of Choral Evensong.

All are welcome to attend this service of Holy Communion at the heart of our community’s weekly cycle of worship. The music is performed by our professional St Bride’s Choir and organist.

A pre-recorded version of this service will also stream online on this page at the same time as the service in church, and on our pages at Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud.

You can also find and subscribe to this service released as a podcast on itunes, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.