Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns 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.

During the hymn a collection will be taken. The money from today's services will be divided equally between Peek Vision and the work of the Abbey. Peek Vision is a social enterprise that powers eye health providers working in low- and middle-income countries to optimise their services and strengthen health systems.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The choir sings the Introit

Salva nos Domine vigilantes custodi nos dormientes ut vigilemus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.

Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

Words: from the office of Compline
Music: Jean Mouton (c 1459–1522)

The officiant says a Sentence of Scripture

The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: plainsong

All sit. The choir sings Venite exultemus Domino

All remain seated. The choir sings Psalms 42 and 43

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?
Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself : for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;
in the voice of praise and thanksgiving : among such as keep holy-day.
Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?
Put thy trust in God : for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.
My God, my soul is vexed within me : therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon.
One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes : all thy waves and storms are gone over me.
The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the daytime : and in the night-season did I sing of him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me : why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword : while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth;
namely, while they say daily unto me : Where is now thy God?
Why art thou so vexed, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?
O put thy trust in God : for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people : O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee : and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me : and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.
And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness : and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.
Why art thou so heavy, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?
O put thy trust in God : for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

All stand

Chants: Peter Holder (b 1990)

All sit for the first Lesson, Isaiah 43: 1–7

Thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
   and honoured, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, 'Give them up',
   and to the south, 'Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.'

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Benedicite omnia opera

Praise ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.
Ye angels of the Lord, praise ye the Lord;
ye heavens, praise ye the Lord;
the sun and the moon, praise ye the Lord;
ye stars of the firmament, praise ye the Lord;
fire and heat, winter and summer, praise ye the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.
Ice and snow, nights and days, praise ye the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.
Light and darkness, lightnings and cloud, praise ye the Lord;
mountains and hills, praise ye the Lord.
Let Israel praise the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.
Ye priests of the Lord, praise ye the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.
ye spirits and souls of righteous men, praise ye the Lord;
ye holy and meek in heart, praise ye the Lord.
Ananias, Azarius, and Misael, praise the Lord : laud and exalt him for ever.

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

Short Service, Adrian Batten (c 1591–c 1637)

All sit for the second Lesson, Ephesians 2: 8–14

By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called 'the uncircumcision' by those who are called 'the circumcision'—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel : for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us : in the house of his servant David;
as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets : which have been since the world began;
that we should be saved from our enemies : and from the hand of all that hate us;
to perform the mercy promised to our forefathers : and to remember his holy covenant;
to perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham : that he would give us;
that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies : might serve him without fear;
in holiness and righteousness before him : all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
to give knowledge of salvation unto his people : for the remission of their sins,
through the tender mercy of our God : whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;
to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death : and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

Short Service, William Byrd (c 1540–1623)

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.

Let us pray.

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

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.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, of Lent, for Peace, for Grace:

Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Music: 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 Lord King Charles, Camilla the Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, the Princess 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 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 to sing the Hymn, during which the collection will be taken. Alternatively, cash donations may be given as you leave

The God of love my Shepherd is,
   and he that doth me feed;
while he is mine and I am his,
   what can I want or need?

He leads me to the tender grass,
   where I both feed and rest;
then to the streams that gently pass:
   in both I have the best.

Or if I stray, he doth convert,
   and bring my mind in frame,
and all this not for my desert,
   but for his holy name.

Yea, in death's shady black abode
   well may I walk, not fear;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
   to guide, thy staff to bear.

Surely thy sweet and wondrous love
   shall measure all my days;
and as it never shall remove
   so neither shall my praise.

Words: George Herbert (1593–1633) after Psalm 23
Tune: University 77 NEH, in John Randall's Psalms and Hymn Tunes 1794

All remain standing for the Blessing

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