Please join in saying the words printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Lay Vicars.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

All remain standing as the officiant introduces a general Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father, we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved thee with all our heart; we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; cleanse us from our sins; and help us to overcome our faults; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All say together the Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

O Lord, open thou our lips
and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.

plainsong

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 118

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious : because his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now confess, that he is gracious : and that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now confess : that his mercy endureth for ever.
Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess : that his mercy endureth for ever.
I called upon the Lord in trouble : and the Lord heard me at large.
The Lord is on my side : I will not fear what man doeth unto me.
The Lord taketh my part with them that help me : therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.
It is better to trust in the Lord : than to put any confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord : than to put any confidence in princes.
All nations compassed me round about : but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side : but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns : for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall : but the Lord was my help.
The Lord is my strength, and my song : and is become my salvation.
The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
I shall not die, but live : and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord hath chastened and corrected me : but he hath not given me over unto death.
Open me the gates of righteousness : that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord : the righteous shall enter into it.
I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me : and art become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders refused : is become the head-stone in the corner.
This is the Lord's doing : and it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord hath made : we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Help me now, O Lord : O Lord, send us now prosperity.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord : we have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord.
God is the Lord, who hath shewed us light : bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.
Thou art my God, and I will thank thee : thou art my God, and I will praise thee.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious : and his mercy endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

plainsong

All remain seated for the first Lesson Isaiah 32

See, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
Each will be like a hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tempest,
like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Then the eyes of those who have sight will not be closed, and the ears of those who have hearing will listen.
The minds of the rash will have good judgement, and the tongues of stammerers will speak readily and distinctly.
A fool will no longer be called noble, nor a villain be said to be honourable.
For fools speak folly, and their minds plot iniquity:
to practise ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord,
to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
The villainies of villains are evil; they devise wicked devices
to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.
But those who are noble plan noble things, and by noble things they stand.

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, listen to my speech.
In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent ones;
for the vintage will fail, the fruit harvest will not come.
Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones;
strip, and make yourselves bare, and put sackcloth on your loins.
Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers;
yes, for all the joyous houses in the jubilant city.
For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watch-tower will become dens for ever,
the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks;
until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.
The forest will disappear completely, and the city will be utterly laid low.
Happy will you be who sow beside every stream, who let the ox and the donkey range freely.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo Salutari meo;
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes;
quia fecit mihi Magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.
Et misericordia eius, a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto;
sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Magnificat secundi toni, John Dunstaple (c?1390–1453)

All sit for the second Lesson James 3: 13–end

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace;
quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum, quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum,
lumen ad revelationem Gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto;
sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Nunc dimittis tertii toni, Andrew Reid (b 1971)

All say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit. The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany, the Lord's Prayer, and the Responses

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us. 

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, save The Queen.
And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
And make thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save thy people.
And bless thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

plainsong

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, Charles Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Brotherhood of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt.

Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur.

Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Words: Matthew 5: 8–10
William Byrd (c 1540–1623), Gradualia 1605

All kneel or sit for the Intercessions, at the end of which all say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

All stand as the choir and clergy depart

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary. Please remember to maintain social distancing when leaving the church

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