Wednesday evening, 29 September, at 7.30pm – please join us, for our joyful Patronal Festival Mass.

This Feast Day Mass is the first Celebration of the Eucharist by newly-priested Curate, Fr Ash Leighton Plom.

We are delighted to have a full Choir & congregational singing for this Mass, followed by refreshments and party afterwards this year. All are warmly welcomed to celebrate with Ash and his family.

While we often shorten our church’s title to St Michael’s, it’s good also to let the “and All Angels” remind us that all gathered here are valued, wherever we are on the pilgrimage of faith; all are welcome here, quiet, confident or questioning.

Liturgy and Music

Mass in C&F by C V Stanford.

Plainsong Propers

INTROIT. Benedicite Dominum. Ps. 103.
O PRAISE the Lord, ye Angels of his, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his words. Ps. ibid.
Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, praise his holy Name. V. Glory be.

O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GRADUAL. Ps. 103. O praise the Lord, ye Angels of his, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil his commandment. V. O praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in the day of battle: that we perish not in the dreadful judgement. Alleluia.

OFFERTORY. Rev. 8, An Angel stood at the altar of the temple, having a golden censer in his hand, and there was given unto him much incense: and the smoke of the incense ascended up before God, alleluia.

COMMUNION. Song of the Three Children. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: sing ye praises, and magnify him above all for ever.

An Anthem for Michaelmas

Faire is the Heaven, Sir William Harris (1883-1973)
A high point of 20th century Anglican music from an Organist of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, setting a 16th century poem by Edmund Spenser.

Faire is the heaven where happy Soules have place In full enjoyment of felicitie.

A Sonnet for Michaelmas

Michaelmas by Malcolm Guite, Cambridge poet, priest and performer.

Michaelmas gales assail the waning year,
And Michael’s scale is true, his blade is bright.
He strips dead leaves; and leaves the living clear
To flourish in the touch and reach of light.
Archangel bring your balance, help me turn
Upon this turning world with you and dance
In the Great Dance. Draw near, help me discern,
And trace the hidden grace in change and chance.
Angel of fire, Love’s fierce radiance,
Drive through the deep until the steep waves part,
Undo the dragon’s sinuous influence
And pierce the clotted darkness in my heart.
Unchain the child you find there, break the spell
And overthrow the tyrannies of Hell.