Secretary’s Newsletter 99 Winter 2024
The Secretary’s Newsletter
No.99: Winter 2024
From the Interim Secretary:
Revd Robert A. Canham
Windrush
Braithwaite
KESWICK
CA12 5SZ
Phone: 017687 78054
Email: Please see our Contact page
On a very cold late-November evening some eighty people gathered in St James Church, Sussex Gardens, Paddington, for what turned out to be a jolly event with wine, sandwiches and the sing- ing of some ten or more hymns, at the launch of the long-awaited Revised English Hymnal. Five Hymn Society members, pictured above, were present (from the left, Gordon Giles, one of the editors, Robert and Jenny Canham, James Dickinson and Phil Price).
The REH is anchored firmly in the tradition of its predecessors The English Hymnal (1906/1933) and New English Hymnal (1986) with almost a third of the items included being new to those familiar with the latter. The aims, stated in the Preface, include: ‘to remain classically Anglican, doctrinally orthodox, liturgically focused, musically and poetically intelligent, and ecumenically and chronologically diverse: thus providing a unique treasury for public worship, private devotion, and spiritual formation.’
In his Foreword to the REH, our Honorary President, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, says: ‘So this latest revision of The English Hymnal begins its journey into the hearts of English-speaking worshippers. What it seeks to do is to offer a resource for the service of God that is grounded in this ideal of nourishing a ‘sensing’ or ‘feeling with the Church’ – using our words and music as a means of allowing the patterns and rhythms of God’s own action to share our lives.’
2024 High Leigh Conference, Tuesday, 23rd – Friday, 26th July
Booking forms with full information are enclosed. Note: Places are limited so early booking is essential to ensure a place. Also, whilst it may be possible to come as a Day Visitor, we need to know swiftly, as this has had to be planned as a primarily residential Conference. Please do not hesitate to request consideration for a Bursary if you would like to come but are financially constrained.
More information and booking form.
Sadly, this current issue of the Newsletter is largely comprised of news of deaths. Other information / publicity etc. is confined to the bottom
We welcome new members who recently joined the Society:
Mr Bryan Au Yeung (Oxford)
Mr Wayne Helmly (South Carolina, USA)
Ms Kaarina Leong (Lancaster)
Mr Clive Sawers (Newton Abbot, Devon)
Mrs Cindy Sekiguchi (Lebanon, USA)
Mr Philip White (Devon)
Mr Douglas Yeo (Carol Stream, Illinois, USA)
We welcome new members joining the Society via IAH:
Pfarrer Michael Bartzik (Neckarsulm, GERMANY)
Frau Sonja Böker (Stuttgart, GERMANY)
We regret having to report the deaths of several members:
Revd David Blanchflower (Cambridge)
Miss Elizabeth Cosnett (Liverpool)
Mr Peter Cutts (Huddersfield)
Mr Fred S. Evans (Buckley, Flintshire)
Revd Nigel Lemon (Penwortham, Preston, Lancashire)
Miss Joan T. McAlees (Larne, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland)
Revd Peter Simpson (Bishophill Junior, York)
David Blanchflower, a retired Methodist minister, was a well-known member of the Society for over thirty years and a much-loved attendee at Conference, which he rarely missed. For many years living in Belper, Derbyshire, it was only in 2019 that he moved ‘Down South’ to Cambridge. David died in the early hours of Remembrance Sunday, 12th November, following a sustained and courageous battle with cancer. At our 2022 Lancaster Conference he presented a Short Metre contribution on the hymn, Safe in the arms of Jesus, where he now remains. He had intended to be at our 2023 Lincoln Conference but was too unwell to attend. David was a good, gentle and encouraging friend to many, and will be remembered with affection as he will also be sorely missed.
Nigel Lemon, a retired URC minister, died, following a short illness, in the early hours of New Year’s Day. His family has spoken of the enormous pleasure he gained from the various societies to which he belonged. I know from my various correspondences with him that that included The Hymn Society which he joined in 2013.
Joan McAlees died peacefully in hospital on 27th September. She was a retired District Administrative Nursing Officer and joined the Society in 1998.
Peter Simpson became a member of The Hymn Society in 2007. Though born in Leeds, he moved to Belfast in 1979 where he came under the influence of Edward Darling, at the time, Rector of St John’s Malone in Belfast. Edward’s knowledge and love of hymns made a huge impression on him. Following his return to London in 1990, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church and ordained a deacon in 1997. He later met Michael Saward who suggested he become a member of Jubilate Hymns and probably encouraged him to join The Hymn Society. Peter was Chaplain at our 2011 High Leigh Conference, so far as we are aware, our only Roman Catholic Chaplain! Soon after, however, he was received into the Anglican Church serving as an NSM in Inverness until his retirement in 2018 when he moved to York.
Also, just prior to going to print, we have heard of the death of our former Executive President (1999-2002) Elizabeth Cosnett who died on 22nd January 2024, just before Candlemas when, doubtless, her celebratory hymn When candles are lighted on Candlemas Day will have rung out in many churches. Elizabeth, a Liverpudlian by birth, died in that city where she lived and worked for most of her life, teaching in both Grammar and Comprehensive schools prior to lecturing in English at the Liverpool Institute of Higher Education. A gifted hymnwriter, 36 of her texts were included in her collection Hymns for Everyday Saints published by Stainer & Bell Ltd in 2001. Elizabeth was also an hymnologist (her MA dissertation for Liverpool University was entitled: The Poet as Hymn Writer: A study of the hymns of George Wither, William Cowper and Robert Bridges). And she, too, rarely missed a Conference and will also be remembered by many of us with affection and admiration.
Then, at the very moment of going to Press, news has arrived of two further deaths: Peter Cutts and Fred Evans. Peter, who died on 26th January, had been a member, remarkably, since before 1960! Fred, who died on 5th February, a member since 2009. May all these friends, old and new, rest in peace and rise in glory.
Pratt Green Trust hymn text / tune competition
Celebrating their 40th Anniversary, The Pratt Green Trust is holding a hymn / tune competition on the theme: Celebrating Creation in All its Diversity. There are three categories: ‘Original text to a well-known melody’; ‘Original text to an original melody’; ‘Original melody to a Fred Pratt Green text’. There is a £500 prize for the winning entry in each category. The closing date for submissions is 10th May 2024, with the winners being announced on 4th July 2024. For more information see the website: hymncomp.prattgreentrust.org.uk/
London Day – Saturday, 20th April 2024: 10.00 am – 3.30 pm
This will, I think, be the fourth London Day. Each, held in different London venues, has been varied, interesting, included a Festival of Hymns and all have been much appreciated by those attending. If it is accessible to you, and you are available, don’t miss this one !
Winner of Paris competition
You may recall from my Newsletter (No.98: Autumn 2023) that the winning words entry in the St George’s Paris Anglican Church Bicentenary Hymn / Tune Competition was our member, Revd Doug Constable with his text: Strong Sovereign at the heart of every soul.
With the completion of part two, supplying a tune to those words, it has been confirmed that out of some forty entries, from the USA, Canada, the UK and continental Europe, the successful composer is also one of our members, Dr Alan Bullard (Colchester, Essex). Congratulations Alan! The words and tune were sung together for the first time at the Bicentenary Eucharist on Saturday 10th February.
Both Doug Constable’s text and Alan Bullard’s tune may be accessed on the ‘St George’s’ website: www.stgeorgesparis.com – click on the ‘Bicentenary News’ button and scroll down to ‘Hymn Competition’.
Remember The Joystrings?
Those of a certain age may remember the advent of the Joystrings in the 1960s. Our member, Morvyn Finch, informs me that Major Joy Webb, founder member of this Salvation Army group, was ‘Promoted to Glory’ on the Sunday morning of October 1st. The Joystrings’ hits included ‘It’s an Open Secret’ and ‘I want to sing it’. Major Webb was a prolific poet, hymn and song writer, her Christmas song ‘On a Starry Night’ found its way into many school assembly hymnbooks. Several years ago, she received the Order of the Founder (OF), the highest honour accorded to a Salvationist for outstanding service. Although not a Hymn Society member, Joy Webb is a significant presence in the ever-unfolding story of hymnody.