Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At Matins most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

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 Choir of Westminster Abbey, conducted by Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ is played by Matthew Jorysz, Sub-Organist.

Following the service, a collection will be taken; it will be divided equally between the Lord Mayor's charities: Hotel School and The Avenues Youth Project.

This service will be live-streamed.

Before the service the 'Laetatus Bell' is tolled. Its inscription runs: LAETATUS SUM: FLOREAT CIVITAS: FLOREAT SENATUS I was glad (Psalm 122: 1) May the city flourish: May Parliament flourish.

Before the service, Paul Greally, Assistant Organistm plays:

Prelude and Fugue, Matthew Martin (b 1976)
Concerto in A minor BWV 593, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) after Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Postlude in D, Henry Smart (1813–79)

The Guard of Honour is commanded by Sergeant Mitchell-Lyth, Detachment Commander 235 Westminster (Scots Guards), and includes cadets representing a variety of Westminster's uniformed organisations.

Prior to the arrival of the Lord Mayor, a Procession comprising the Representative of HM's Lord Lieutenant of Greater London; the Honorary Recorder of Westminster; His Majesty's Senior Coroner for Inner West London; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Westminster; and representatives of the Metropolitan Police Service, moves to places in Quire.

Order of Service

The Lord Mayor of Westminster is received at the Great West Door. All stand

All remain standing as the processions of the Lord Mayor and Councillors of the City of Westminster move to places in the Lantern and in Quire

The choir sings the Introit

Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum: irreprehensibilis est.

This place was made by God: a priceless and unblemished sign of his presence.

Words: Gradual, Mass for the dedication of a church
Music: Anton Bruckner (1824–96)

All sing the Hymn, during which the choir and clergy process to places in Quire and the Sacrarium

All my hope on God is founded;
   he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
   only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,
   sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
   tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

God's great goodness aye endureth,
   deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
   beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth th'Almighty giver
   bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
   pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternal
   sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
   for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

Words: 'Meine Hoffnung stehet feste' Joachim Neander (1650–80) translated by Robert Bridges (1844–1930)
Tune: 'Michael' 333 NEH, Herbert Howells (1892–1983) 

All remain standing. The Reverend David Stanton, Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer, gives the Welcome

The Reverend Helena Bickley-Percival, Sacrist, says a Sentence of Scripture

The Sacrist and choir sing the Responses

Music: Bernard Rose (1916–96)

All sit. The choir sings Venite exultemus Domino

Chant: RIchard Farrant (c 1525–80)

All remain seated. The choir sings Psalm 30

I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up : and not made my foes to triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried unto thee : and thou hast healed me.
Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell : thou hast kept my life from them that go down to the pit.
Sing praises unto the Lord, O ye saints of his : and give thanks unto him for a remembrance of his holiness.
For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and in his pleasure is life : heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be removed : thou, Lord, of thy goodness hast made my hill so strong.
Thou didst turn thy face from me : and I was troubled.
Then cried I unto thee, O Lord : and gat me to my Lord right humbly.
What profit is there in my blood : when I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust give thanks unto thee : or shall it declare thy truth?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me : Lord, be thou my helper.
Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy : thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.
Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing : O my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

All stand

Chant: James Turle (1802–82) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1831–82

All sit. The Right Worshipful Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster, reads the first Lesson, Deuteronomy 24: 10–15, 17–end

When you make your neighbour a loan of any kind, you shall not go into the house to take the pledge. You shall wait outside, while the person to whom you are making the loan brings the pledge out to you. If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the garment given you as the pledge. You shall give the pledge back by sunset, so that your neighbour may sleep in the cloak and bless you; and it will be to your credit before the Lord your God.

You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy labourers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt.

You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow's garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.

When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.

When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Te Deum laudamus

Collegium Regale, Herbert Howells

All sit. Councillor Adam Hug, Leader, Westminster City Council, reads the second Lesson, Acts 28: 1–16

After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, 'This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.' He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honours on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.

Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Jubilate Deo

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands.
   Serve the Lord with gladness;
   and come before his presence with a song.

Be ye sure that the Lord he is God.
   It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
   we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,
   and into his courts with praise.
   Be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name.

For the Lord is gracious;
   his mercy is everlasting,
   and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

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.

Collegium Regale, Herbert Howells

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 Sacrist and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

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 Sacrist sings the Collects; of the day, for Peace, for Grace:

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; 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: Bernard Rose

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing,
My God and King.

The heav'ns are not too high,
His praise may thither fly:
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.

Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing,
My God and King.

The Church with psalms must shout,
No door can keep them out:
But above all, the heart
Must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing,
My God and King.

Words: 'Antiphon I' from 'The Temple' George Herbert (1593–1633)
Music: 'Antiphon' from 'Five Mystical Songs' Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

The Sacrist says

Let us pray.

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The Sacrist 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, Queen Camilla, 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

King of glory, King of peace,
   I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
   I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
   thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
   thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art
   I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
   I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
   thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
   thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
   I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
   I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
   to enrol thee:
e'en eternity's too short
   to extol thee.

Words: 'Praise' (ii) in 'The Temple' George Herbert
Tune: 'Gwalchmai' 391 NEH, Joseph David Jones (1827–70)

The Sermon by the Sub-Dean

All stand to sing the Hymn

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:
the love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Words: Urbs Dei, Cecil Spring-Rice (1859–1918)
Tune: Thaxted 295 AMNS, Gustav Holst (1874–1934)

All remain standing. The Sub-Dean pronounces the Blessing

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no-one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

All sing the National Anthem

God save our gracious King,
long live our noble King,
   God save The King.
Send him victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us:
   God save The King.

All remain standing as the processions move through Quire and the Nave

Music after the service

Marche Héroïque, Herbert Brewer (1865–1928)

The Procession of The Lord Mayor and Councillors moves to College Garden, with invited guests following

The bells of the Abbey church are rung

Members of the congregation are requested to remain in their places until directed to move by the Honorary Stewards