Please join in saying the words printed in bold type.

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The service is sung by the Happenstance Singers.

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 people 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.

Composer: William Smith (1603–45)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 35

Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me : and fight thou against them that fight against me.
Lay hand upon the shield and buckler : and stand up to help me.
Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me : say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek after my soul : let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mischief for me.
Let them be as the dust before the wind : and the angel of the Lord scattering them.
Let their way be dark and slippery : and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.
For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause : yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.
Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, and his net, that he hath laid privily, catch himself : that he may fall into his own mischief.
And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord : it shall rejoice in his salvation.
All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him : yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?
False witnesses did rise up : they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
They rewarded me evil for good : to the great discomfort of my soul.
Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting : and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend, or my brother : I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together : yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares, making mouths at me, and ceased not.
With the flatterers were busy mockers : who gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this : O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me, and my darling from the lions.
So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation : I will praise thee among much people.
O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly : neither let them wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.
And why? their communing is not for peace : but they imagine deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said : Fie on thee, fie on thee, we saw it with our eyes.
This thou hast seen, O Lord : hold not thy tongue then, go not far from me, O Lord.
Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel : avenge thou my cause, my God, and my Lord.
Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness : and let them not triumph over me.
Let them not say in their hearts, There, there, so would we have it : neither let them say, We have devoured him.
Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that rejoice at my trouble : let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that boast themselves against me.
Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing : yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the Lord, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness : and of thy praise all the day long.

All stand

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.

Chants: Herbert Oakeley (1830–1903), Samuel Wesley (1766–1837), and William Crotch (1775–1847)

All sit for the first Lesson, Jeremiah 20: 7–end

O Lord, you have enticed me,
   and I was enticed;
you have overpowered me,
   and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughing-stock all day long;
   everyone mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I must cry out,
   I must shout, 'Violence and destruction!'
For the word of the Lord has become for me
   a reproach and derision all day long.
If I say, 'I will not mention him,
   or speak any more in his name',
then within me there is something like a burning fire
   shut up in my bones;
I am weary with holding it in,
   and I cannot.
For I hear many whispering:
   'Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!'
   All my close friends
   are watching for me to stumble.
'Perhaps he can be enticed,
   and we can prevail against him,
   and take our revenge on him.'
But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior;
   therefore my persecutors will stumble,
   and they will not prevail.
They will be greatly shamed,
   for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonour
   will never be forgotten.
O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous,
   you see the heart and the mind;
let me see your retribution upon them,
   for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord;
   praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy
   from the hands of evildoers.

Cursed be the day
   on which I was born!
The day when my mother bore me,
   let it not be blessed!
Cursed be the man
   who brought the news to my father, saying,
'A child is born to you, a son',
   making him very glad.
Let that man be like the cities
   that the Lord overthrew without pity;
let him hear a cry in the morning
   and an alarm at noon,
because he did not kill me in the womb;
   so my mother would have been my grave,
   and her womb for ever great.
Why did I come forth from the womb
   to see toil and sorrow,
   and spend my days in shame?

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his hand-maiden.
For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, 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.

Evening Service in B flat, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

All sit for the second Lesson, Matthew 27: 27–44

The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'

Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, "I am God's Son." ' The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
to be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Evening Service in B flat, Charles Villiers Stanford

All face east to 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 God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake 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.

William Smith

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 Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks,
   so longeth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul is athirst for God,
   yea, even for the living God.
When shall I come to appear before
   the presence of God?
My tears have been my meat
   day and night,
while they daily say unto me,
   'Where is now thy God?'

Words: Psalm 42: 1–3
Music: Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

The congregation remains seated; members of College stand. The Receiver General presents the candidates to the Dean and says

Mr Dean, I present to you Martin Castledine to be admitted as Dean's Verger; Juliette Curtin to be admitted as Safeguarding Officer; Jon Reeves to be admitted as Head of Security; Amy Parr to be admitted as Head of Retail; Grazyna Richmond to be admitted as Head of Engagement; Laura Arends to be admitted as Head of Learning, of this Collegiate Church.

The Dean says

The distinguished offices which you, Martin, Juliette, Jon, Amy, Grazyna, and Laura, hold, come with great privilege and responsibility. It is your duty to care for the good governance of this Abbey Church, so that with integrity we may serve almighty God. You are to advise the Dean and Chapter in matters pertaining to your roles, so that they may exercise their ministry honestly and reverently for the greater glory of God and his Church. And, as members of this College, you are to endeavour to strengthen our common life and ministry.

Are you willing to accept these duties?
I am, and will perform them by the help of God.

The Dean takes each candidate by the hand and leads them to their stalls in Quire

I, David Michael Hoyle, Dean of this College, admit you, N, and place you in the stall assigned to you in Quire, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

   Cape hanc sedem in sacris ministraturus
   et laudes Dei celebraturus
   in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
   Amen.

May God, who has given you the desire to undertake these responsibilities, strengthen your resolve, and give you grace faithfully to fulfil the tasks that are required of you.

Let us pray.

All stand

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, you call us by your grace to offer our gifts for the good of your Church and to sustain our common life. Hear the prayers we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry each may serve you in holiness and truth; and give to your servants the needful gifts of grace, to the glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All sing the Hymn

   Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
   who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
   who from our mother's arms
      hath blessed us on our way
   with countless gifts of love,
      and still is ours to-day.

   O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
   with ever joyful hearts
and blessèd peace to cheer us;
   and keep us in his grace,
      and guide us when perplexed,
   and free us from all ills
      in this world and the next.

   All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
   the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven,
   the One eternal God,
      whom earth and heaven adore;
   for thus it was, is now,
      and shall be evermore. Amen.

Words: Nun danket alle Gott Martin Rinkart (1586–1649) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–78)
Tune: Nun danket 413 NEH, in Johann Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica 1647

The Dean pronounces the Blessing

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

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