If you have special memories or photos of St Michael’s over the years, please let us know. It would be good to compile some articles and a display for our Sesquicentenary celebrations in September. Also if you have ideas how best to celebrate it.
At the recent St Michael’s District Church Council Meeting, Richard Parker, Amy Down and Richard Barnes agreed to co-ordinate Events for the 150th Anniversary.
We hope these might include:-
Devon Historic Churches Trust Ride&Stride and Heritage Open Days on Sat 8th/Sun 9th September, with Exhibition and Talks.
A 150th Anniversary Dinner.
Reconstruction of an original Service at St Michael’s – Music, Liturgy, even the Sermon!
Michaelmas itself is Saturday 29th September – a Thanksgiving Mass.
Pageant involving our local Schools with a Victorian theme.
Come&Sing Performance. Perhaps “Ein deutsches Requiem” composed by Brahms in 1868, including ‘How lovely are Thy dwellings fair’.

Meanwhile, please pray for our continuing life & mission, and support your church with your time, talents and giving.

A Happy & Joyful Easter to & from all at St Michael’s. Christ is Risen; He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!
Some April Events at St Michael’s
Sun 8 Apr Low Sunday 11am Sung Mass – Fr Christopher Durrant – Palestrina
Mon 9 Apr Feast of the Annunciation (transferred) 6pm Sung Mass (please note the time)
PLEASE NOTE CHange of Date for Annual Parish Church Meeting at St David’s Church. Now Mon 30 Apr 7pm.
Sun 15 Apr Easter 3/II 11am Sung Mass – Fr Nigel Guthrie – Harris in F
Sun 22 Apr Easter 4/III Good Shepherd Sunday 11am A cappella Mass – Byrd 4
Sat 28 Apr 9.30am Men’s Breakfast – check in church/on line for venue
Sun 29 Apr Easter 5/IV 11am Sung Mass – Sermon B ill Pattinson – Darke on F
NEW DATE Mon 30 Apr 7pm Annual Parish Church Meeting at St David’s Church. All welcome
Sun 6 May Rogation Sunday 11am Sung Mass & Procession, 6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction

Regular pattern of Worship at St Michael’s.
Sundays 11am-12.05 – Sung Mass, followed by Refreshments. Bountiful Table of preserves, cakes etc. each 1st Sunday of the month.
Sunday 6-7pm (1st Sunday of the month, but not Apr 1st ) – Choral Evensong & Benediction.
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-6.40pm (except in August) – Plainsong Vespers & silent meditation.
Tuesdays 7-8.30pm – Choir Practice. We need more voices in the Choir; we have experienced singers in all parts, so you don’t need to sight-read or sing solo – it’s more about listening, blending and following the conductor.
Wednesdays 9.30am – BCP Matins. 10am – Said Mass.
Thursdays at St David’s Church at 10.30am – Holy Communion followed by Refreshments.

All are welcome at St Michael’s, where worship is traditional, music is excellent and people are friendly. Please join us.
Richard Barnes.

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2018 is our 150th Anniversary. If you have special memories or photos of St Michael’s over the years, please let us know. It would be good to compile some articles and a display for our Sesquicentenary celebrations at Michaelmas.

Fri 2 Mar at St David’s Church. 7.30pm Exeter College Choral Society conducted by Alfie Pugh, accompanied by John Draisey. Mozart, Kodaly & Rachmaninov. £12 (£5 students).

Sun 4 Mar, Lent III. 11am Sung Mass. Missa Brevis, Lotti. Motet: God so loved the world, Sir John Stainer. Celebrant: Fr Nigel Guthrie. Followed by the Bountiful Table.

Sun 4 Mar, 3pm. Trumpet, Organ & Piano Recital, Will Palmer & Peter Adcock. Fundraiser for St Peter’s School Malawi Project.

Sun 4 Mar at 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Byrd Responses. Psalms 11,12. Hymn: 67. Canticles: Dorian Service, Tallis. Anthem: Wash Me Throughly, SSWesley.

In his Ash Wednesday Sermon, Fr Christopher encouraged us to spend more time in prayer in Church, and to study to broaden our imagination. We could use one or more Wednesdays in Lent (28 Feb, 7,14,21 Mar) for this. There is Stations of the Cross at 6pm – a prayerful 45min meditation on Jesus’ way to the Cross. And the Lent Reading Group at 7pm for an hour or so exploring the life and thoughts of St Antony, the founder of desert monasticism.

Sun 11 Mar, Laetare & Mothering Sunday, 11am. Mass in F, Harold Darke. The Lord bless you & keep you, John Rutter. Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Rose Vestments, flower posies & simnel cake.

Thurs 15 Mar. Parish Lunch, 12 noon, at Exeter College’s @34 Restaurant – please sign up in Church.

Sat 17 Mar at 7.30pm, Exeter Chamber Choir Concert. Music for Lent including MacMillan Miserere & Lotti Crucifixus. Admission £10.

Sun 18 Mar, Passion Sunday, 11am. Sarum Plainsong Mass. O große Lieb, JSBach. Fr Nigel Guthrie.

Sun 18 Mar, 4pm in Exeter Cathedral. Farewell Service for Bishop Sarah Mullally, who will be installed as Bishop of London in May.

Sat 24 Mar, 9.30am Men’s Breakfast at the Imperial. Details from Ian Smith at St David’s.

Sun 25 Mar, Palm Sunday, 11am. N.B. BST starts. Blessing of Palms & Procession. Sung Gospel. This Mass will finish a little later than usual.

Summary of Holy Week at St Michael’s

28th Spy Wednesday, Stations of the Cross at 6pm, Liszt Via Crucis.

29th Maundy Thursday, Sung Mass with Foot-washing at 7.30pm, Casciolini & Elgar.

30th Good Friday Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross at 10.30am and the moving Office of Tenebrae sung from the Gallery at 8pm, Plainsong, Lassus & Palestrina.

31st Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil Mass with New Fire & Lighting of Paschal Candle at 8pm, Stanford & Handel.

Sun 1 Apr, Easter Day, 11am Festal Sung Mass. This Joyful Eastertide. Mozart Mass in D. Hallelujah Chorus. Ven David Gunn-Johnson.
NO Choral Evensong & Benediction today – Choir & Clergy serviced out!

A Happy & Joyful Easter to & from all at St Michael’s. Christ is Risen; He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!

Richard Barnes.

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Reading Group, in lieu of St Michael’s Lecture this month.
For 3 Wednesdays in October, 11, 18 & 25, Oliver Nicholson will lead a Reading Goup at St Michael’s at 7.30pm. We will discuss the Pilgrimage of Egeria to the Holy Land in the 4th century – one of the earliest descriptions of the holy places and practices of the Church. Please join us.

Diary
Sun 1st Oct, 10.45am, Dedication Sunday, Fr Christopher. Byrd 5, Bruckner. Bountiful Table.
Sun 1st Oct, 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Rev Alison & Fr C. Tallis, Stanford.
New – Fri 6th Oct, 7pm, Concert by GRICE and friends – electro-acoustic folk-rock-jazz. £10.
Sun 8th Oct, 10.45am, Trinity XVII, Fr Nigel Mason. Reformation Hymns, Hassler, Bach.
Tue 10th Oct, 6pm, CBS Plainsong Mass – St Paulinus, Bishop of York (644).
Wed 11th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 1.
Sun 15th Oct, 10.45am, Harvest, Fr Nigel Mason. Harris, Greene.
Mon 16th Oct, 7.30pm, Vocations 18-30 Event at The Imperial.
Tue 17th Oct, 7 for 7.30pm, at St Leonard’s Church, Topsham Road, Deanery Synod Meeting
Wed 18th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 2.
Thu 19th Oct, 7.30pm, Concert by Exeter Police & Community Male Voice Choir.
Sun 22nd Oct, 10.45am, Trinity XIX, Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Casciolini, Rachmaninov.
Wed 25th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 3.
Sun 29th Oct. 10.45am, All Saints’ Sunday, Fr C, Rev Alison. Victoria, O quam gloriosum.
Thu 2nd Nov, 7.30pm, Sung Requiem Mass. Fauré, Stanford.

Other Regular Events:-
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm Plainsong Vespers & Meditation.
Tuesdays, 7-8.30pm Choir Practice.
Wednesdays, 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer, 10am Low Mass.

Choir Music

Dr Nigel Browne

Any students from University or College wishing to gain experience singing music in its liturgical context are most welcome to join us. One or two scholarships may be available.

For Dedication Sunday (of our building and of ourselves) we have the Motet ‘Locus Iste’ by Bruckner (1824-96) – This place is made by God, a priceless mystery, without reproof – and strong hymn tunes by Purcell, Gibbons & SSWesley.

Please support our Choral Evensong & Benediction at 6pm on the 1st. Music altered to include accompanied pieces by Charles Villiers Stanford as we welcome Michael Graham as guest Organist.

On 8th October, anticipating the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses on 31st Oct 1517, we have hymn tunes of German origin and a motet by JSBach. The Missa ‘super Dixit Maria’ may seem a strange choice, but Protestant Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) from Nuremberg studied with Gabrieli in Venice and, as the foremost organist and German composer of his age, wrote Masses for the Catholic Church and Psalm tunes for the Lutheran Church, as well as much ‘secular’ vocal & instrumental music.

Harvest is celebrated on 15th Oct – if you can, please bring some non-perishable items to be added to our collection for the Exeter FoodBank. The motet is ‘Thou visitest the Earth’ by Maurice Greene (1696-1755).

Please support the Concert on Thu 18th Oct by Exeter Police & Community Male Voice Choir with an eclectic programme from Sacred to Songs from the Shows.

On 22nd October, we hope to have enough voices to sing ‘Bogoroditse Dyevo’ from Rachmaninov’s Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil of 1915. The text is subtly different from the Latin ‘Ave Maria’.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.

October ends with All Saints’ Sunday on the 29th, singing Victoria’s ‘O quam gloriosum’. The motet written c.1572 was used as the model for his later Missa.

All Souls’ Day, Thursday 2nd November at 7.30pm, we sing Requiem by Gabriel Fauré liturgically, with the Reading of Names of the Departed.

Richard Barnes.

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Sung Vespers & Meditation on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 6pm.

Choir Practices continue on Tuesdays at 7pm.

Matins & Low Mass are said at 9.30/10am on Wednesdays.

Communion is also celebrated at St David’s Church at 10.30am on Thursdays.

All are welcome to services and events at St Michael’s.

Sat 2 Sept at 2pm at Exeter & Devon Crematorium – a Service of Remembrance (phone 01392 496333 to request a name to be remembered aloud).

Sunday 3 September, Trinity XII, 10.45am Sung Mass. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson, as our celebrant & preacher. Hymns: 390 (T493): 449: 366. Setting: Mass for Three Voices – Byrd. Motet: Ego sum panis vivus – Byrd.
Bountiful Table this morning – please continue to support our successful Bring&Buy produce stall.

Sun 3 Sept, 6pm, Evensong and Benediction. Led by Fr Christopher Durrant. Responses: Byrd. Psalm: 105 vv 1-15. Office Hymn: 248(ii). Canticles: Tallis Dorian Service. Anthem: Purge me, O Lord – Tallis. O salutaris: 269. Tantum Ergo: 268.

Saturday 9th September, Heritage Open Day 9am-6pm, and Devon Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride. Guided Tour of Mount Dinham & Church at 2.30pm with Richard Parker.

Sunday 10 September, Trinity XIII, 10.45am Mass. With Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Hymns: 338 : 439(i) : 79. Setting: Missa Brevis, Lotti. Motet: O Sacrum Convivium, Croce.
Also Heritage Open Day 10am-5pm, with Cream Teas for fund-raising from 3-5pm.

Thu 14 Sept at 6pm. CBS Mass for Holy Cross Day with Fr David Hastings.

Thu 14 Sept from 6.30pm starting in Northernhay Gardens, Richard Parker leads a 2 hour architectural history walk around central Exeter. Cost £7.

Sat 16 Sept at 11am. Nuptial Mass and Wedding of Terence Beverton & Analyn Castro-Perez.

Sun 17 Sept, Trinity XIV, 10.45am Mass. Fr Christopher. Hymns: 477 : 295 : 431. Setting: Missa L’hora Passa, Viadana. Motet: Exsultate Justi, Viadana.

Tue 19 – Sat 23 Sep. Exhibition at St Stephen’s on the High Street, from 11-4, 6pm on Thurs. Stories of Exeter’s War Hospitals 1914-19. https://www.exeterlocalhistorysociety.co.uk/world-war-1-hospitals-exhibition/

Sun 24 Sept, Trinity XV, 10.45am Mass. Fr Christopher with Bill Pattinson preaching. Hymns: 335 : 74 : 443. Setting: Mass in Phrygian mode, Wood. Motet: Jesu Dulcis Memoria, Wood.

Wed 27 Sept, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lecture. We welcome Dr Felix Flicker, a Research Fellow in Physics at New College Oxford. His intriguing title is “Paradoxes: Jokes, Riddles, Zen Buddhist Kohns, and some Questions in Theoretical Physics.” Come & be enlightened!

Friday 29th September is Michaelmas and we have our Festival Sung Mass at 7.30pm. All are most welcome to this service, which is followed by a Bring & Share Party – please join us. Our guest preacher is Fr Peter March. Hymns: 191 (T238) : 190(ii) : 193. Setting: Missa Aeterna Christi Munera, Palestrina. Motet: Exsultate Justi, Viadana. Owing to the sad departure of our Director of Music and our Organist having a family commitment, the Music this year will be less flamboyant than usual. But we are hugely grateful that John Draisey has kindly agreed to play for the Service and conduct us.

Sun 1 October, Trinity XVI,10.45am Sung Mass & Bountiful Table. Fr Christopher.

Sun 1 Oct, 6pm, Choral Evensong and Benediction.

Advanced Notice. For 3 Wednesdays in October (11th, 18th & 25th) Oliver Nicholson will lead a Reading Group at St Michael’s Church exploring of the writings of Egeria, an Early Christian Pilgrim. Egeria was a religious lady who spent the years 381 to 384 AD in the Holy Land and visiting the Desert Fathers of Egypt. She wrote an extensive account of her travels to ‘her dear sisters’ back home in what is now the south of France; her pilgrimage has been described as ‘biblical commentary written with the feet’. The group will meet at 7.15pm on three Wednesday evenings in October (11th, 18th & 25th) to talk about her travels. Copies of the excellent translation by Canon John Wilkinson will be available for purchase on the first evening (October 11th), when Oliver will introduce the topic of Egeria and early Christian pilgrimage in general. Folk who are going on the Holy Land pilgrimage in April 2018 might find this of particular interest.
Feast Day or ordinary, you’re always welcome at St Michael’s.

Richard Barnes

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Wed 1 March, Ash Wednesday. Services Morning & Evening.
9.30am Matins, 10am Said Low Mass with Ashes. Fr Christopher.
7.30pm Solemn Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes. Mass in the Dorian Mode – Tallis; Remember not Lord our offences – Purcell. Preacher Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

Sun 5 Mar, Lent I. 10.45am Sung Mass. Cranmer’s Litany of 1544 in Procession. Missa de Angelis; Purge me, O Lord – Purcell. Fr C.

Sun 5 Mar at 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Byrd Responses. Ps 50 vv 1-15. Short Service – Weelkes. Wash me throughly from my wickedness – SSWesley. Fr C.

Tue 7 Mar at 6pm, CBS Plainsong Mass, Saints Perpetua & Felicity, Martyrs at Carthage (203). Fr David Hastings.

Each Wednesday in Lent, 8,15,22,29 Mar & 5 Apr there is both Stations of the Cross at 6pm with a prayerful 40min walk around St Michael’s Church led by a different person each week, and the Lent Reading Group at 7pm for an hour or so exploring the life and thoughts of St Augustine through his famous autobiography, the Confessions, led by Oliver Nicholson.

Sun 12 Mar, Lent II 10.45am Sung Mass. Sarum Plainsong. God so loved the world – Goss. Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Fr Christopher and Preb Alastair Wheeler will be in church afterwards to talk about a Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in April 2018.

Fri 17 Mar at 7.30pm, Exeter College Choral Society Concert – Poulenc Gloria and Mozart Solemn Vespers. Admission £10 adults, £5 students.

Sun 19 Mar, Lent III 10.45am Sung Mass. Merbecke. Sicut Cervus – Palestrina. Fr C.
Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

Sun 26 Mar, Lent IV, 10.45am. N.B. start of BST. Laetare, Mothering Sunday and Annunciation (transferred). Missa Aeterna Christi Munera – Palestrina. The Lord bless you & keep you – Rutter. Fr C.

Sun 2 Apr, Lent V, Passion Sunday, Crosses & Statues are veiled, 10.45am Sung Mass. Dorian mode – Tallis. Song of Christ’s Glory – Grayston Ives. Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

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For the -gesima Sundays, 12th, 19th, 26th Feb, the choir sings all 3 of William Byrd’s Masses, composed c.1592-4, while in his 50s and a Roman Catholic, tolerated by Queen Elizabeth I. Byrd for 4 voices is probably best known, Byrd 3 more sparse & austere, and Byrd 5 the most complex & developed. We contrast these with more modern Motets; Philip Stopford’s 21st century take on “If ye love me”, Edward Elgar’s 1902 setting of “Ave verum corpus”, and “O Lord thou art my God” by 19th century Exeter composer Kellow Pye.

From Thurs 2 – Sun 5 February, Bishop Sarah is visiting our citywide Deanery as part of the Diocese’s “Bishops in Mission” initiative. Look out for events, and pray. We hope she will take part in St David’s School Assembly in St Mike’s and the 10.30am Thursday Eucharist at St David’s.

Thurs 2 February at 7.30pm, 40 days after Christmas, the Nativity narrative concludes with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas. Mass in C by John Ireland, and the “Nunc Dimittis” by Gustav Holst. Fr Christopher Durrant, with guest preacher Revd Matt Rowland, curate at St Leonard’s.

Sun 5 Feb, Epiphany V, 10.45am. Mass in F – Rheinberger. Motet: Our conversation is in Heaven – Gilbert. Fr Christopher.
Sun 5 Feb at 6pm, marking the Eve of 65th Anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II. Choral Evensong & Benediction. Responses: Clucas. Psalms 1,3,4. Canticles: Purcell in G minor. Anthem: We wait for Thy loving kindness – McKie. Hymns 252, 269, 268. Fr C.

Wed 8 Feb at 1.30pm – Funeral Service for Joy Mitchell, taken by Fr David Hastings. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Also the 10am Low Mass will be a Requiem said by Fr David.

Sun 12 Feb, Septuagesima, Epiphany VI. 10.45am. Mass for 4 voices – Byrd. If ye love me – Stopford. Fr C.

Sun 19 Feb, Sexagesima, Epiphany VII. 10.45am. Byrd 3. Ave verum corpus – Elgar. Archdeacon Christopher Futcher.

Wed 22 Feb at 7.30pm – St Michael’s Lecture. Penelope Cowell-Doe will reflect on the Report of the Bishops’ Reflection Group on Sexuality to General Synod. All welcome. Free with voluntary donations.

Thurs 23 Feb at 12noon – Lunch Club at Exeter College’s @34 Restaurant; sign up lists in both our churches.
Thurs 23 Feb at 6pm. CBS Plainsong Mass. St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr (c.155)

Sun 26 Feb, Quinquagesima, Transfiguration Sunday. 10.45am. Byrd 5. O Lord Thou art my God – Pye. Preacher Bill Pattinson.

Shrove Tuesday, 28 Feb at 8.20pm. Pancakes after Choir Practice.

Wed 1 March, Ash Wednesday. Services Morning & Evening.
9.30am Matins, 10am Said Low Mass with Ashes. Fr C.
7.30pm Solemn Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes. Mass in the Dorian Mode – Tallis; Remember not Lord our offences – Purcell. Preacher Ven David Gunn-Johnson.
Sun 5 Mar, Lent I. 10.45am Sung Mass. Cranmer’s Litany of 1544 in Procession. Fr C.
Sun 5 Mar at 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction.

Then, if you want to discover St Augustine, the man behind the myths, please diary our Lent Reading Group at St Michael’s, Wednesday evenings in Lent (8,15,22,29 March, 5 April) at 7.00 – 8.15pm.

Finally, a topic guaranteed to make me unpopular. At Christmas we sang “What shall I give him, poor as I am?” Financial giving to St Michael’s is still inadequate to cover our basic costs (heating, insurance, music, etc., not to mention the Common Fund to the Diocese to pay for Clergy). Please consider again where your Church ranks amongst the things you spend your money on. Our “Giving” page has more details and a link to St Michael’s anonymous online donation page. Many thanks.
Richard Barnes.

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Please see other Website links & Twitter posts for full Music List & Service details.

Concerts & Lecture
Please support the ExeVox Concert on Sun 2nd Oct, directed by Peter Adcock. They will give a half-hour mini-Concert at St Michael’s, followed by Refreshments. It’s one of three mini-concerts of classical and lighter pieces in an afternoon of music-making in aid of Hospiscare; starting at 2.00pm in St Stephen’s Church on the High Street, continuing at 2.45pm in St Pancras’ Church in the Guildhall Centre and coming to St Michael’s for 3.40pm. Each is free, with voluntary collections for Hospiscare. You may like to stay or return to St Michael’s for our monthly Evensong at 6pm.

Sat 8th Oct at Exeter Cathedral at 4pm sees a rather special Evensong with Exeter Symphony Orchestra and the Cathedral & University Chapel Choirs combining to offer the original orchestral versions of Brahms Psalm 84 “How lovely are thy dwellings”, the Canticles in A by Stanford, and the Anthem “I was glad” by Parry.

Please also support a joint Concert with St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership at 7.30pm on Fri 14th Oct featuring internationally known local flautist, Candice Hamel, with Mariko Asakawa-North, piano, and St Michael’s Choir.
Unfortunately, the Tudor Dance Display on Sat 15th Oct has been CANCELLED owing to circumstances beyond “ARTSfest”‘s control.

On Wed 28th Oct St Michael’s Lectures welcome back to Exeter Fr John Underhill, now a curate in Eastbourne, to talk on the subject of Deliverance Ministry & Exorcism.

Choir Music
On 2nd Oct, Dedication Sunday, we have a romantic 19th century Mass setting by Rheinberger (1839-1901). The Motet “Locus Iste” by Bruckner (1824-96) translates – This place was made by God, a priceless (inaestimabile) mystery; it is without reproof (irreprehensibilis).

Our Evensong music is mainly “mellow” for Autumn, Dyson in F Mag & Nunc, and Elgar & Fauré Benediction Hymns, and Harris’s Anthem “Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men” is suited to the Sunday & the Service.

Missa Lauda Sion is a lesser known Palestrina Mass now in our repertoire, and the French dramatist Jean Racine (1639-99) provides the words for the much loved “Cantique” by Fauré (1845-1924) on 9th Oct. This beautiful Hymn to Christ translates thus:-
O Word, equal to the Most High, Our sole hope, eternal day of the earth and heavens,
We break the silence of the peaceful night. Divine Saviour, cast Thine eyes upon us!
Shed the fire of Thy mighty grace upon us. Let all Hell flee at the sound of Thy voice.
Dispel the slumber of a languishing soul That leads it to forget Thy laws!
O Christ, be favourable to your faithful people Now gathered to bless Thee.
Receive the hymns we offer to Thine immortal glory, And may we return laden with Thy gifts.

Harvest is celebrated on Sun 16th Oct – we are asked to collect non-consumable items (shower gel, toothpaste/brush, washing-up liquid etc.) throughout October, rather than ‘food’ at this time, to be sent to the Exeter FoodBank. The Mass setting is new to us, John Ireland (1879-1962) in C, and the Motet is ”O Lord increase our Faith” with music by Henry Loosemore (1600-70) .

Trinity XXII sees us back in the 16th century with William Byrd’s Mass for 5 voices (SATTB) written around 1594, and “Lord for Thy tender mercies sake” by Richard Farrant (c.1525-80)

October ends with All Saints’ Sunday, singing Tomas Luis de Victoria’s Missa “O quam gloriosum”, published in 1583, and Sir William Harris’s “Holy is the True Light” from 1947.

Please note for your Diaries:- All Souls’ Day Requiem, Wed 2nd Nov at 7.30pm, with the Missa Pro Defunctis a 4, also by Victoria, and Motet “Justorum Animae” by Stanford.

Richard Barnes

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Our 2 juvenile peregrine falcons have fledged and should spend the next few months around the Church with the adults learning to fly confidently and hunt for themselves before dispersing to try and find their own territory late in the Autumn – any donations to help with the cost of streaming video from their nest box to the website over the past 4 months would be welcome. Thank you.

As we reach the end of the University year, we say thanks & farewell to Michael, our Tenor Choral Scholar, as he graduates and leaves Exeter. We hope that Saffron, Miranda and Amy will continue with us in September.

Sunday, 3rd July, Trinity VI, may be kept as the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle. 10.45am Solemn Sung Mass. Setting: Mass in the Dorian Mode, by Thomas Tallis (c.1505-85). Motet: The Call, by Richard Lloyd (b.1933), a setting of the 1633 poem by George Herbert:-
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life; Such a Way as gives us breath, Such a Truth as ends all strife, Such a Life as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength; Such a Light as shows a Feast, Such a Feast as mends in length, Such a Strength as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart; Such a Joy as none can move, Such a Love as none can part, Such a Heart as joys in love.

Sunday 3 July, Trinity VI, 6pm Evensong and Benediction. Responses: Tallis. Psalm: 65. Office Hymn: 241. Canticles: Short Service, by Tallis. Anthem: O Lord the Maker of All Thing, by William Mundy (1529-91).

Sun 10 July, Trinity VII. 10.45am. Setting: Mass in D, by Kenneth Leighton (1929-88). Motet: Ubi Caritas et Amor Deus ibi est, by Maurice Duruflé (1902-86).

Thu 14 July, now at 6.00pm. CBS Plainsong Mass commemorating John Keble (1792-1866), Poet, Priest & Founder of the Oxford Movement.

Sun 17 July, Trinity VIII. 10.45am. Setting: Missa Entre Vous Filles, by Orlando de Lassus (1532-94). Motet: Jesu the very thought of Thee, by Edward Bairstow (1874-1946).

Wed 20 July at 7.30pm. St Michael’s Lecture. Orthodoxy & Plurality, a Great and Holy Council. Fr Peter Scorer, Protodeacon of the Orthodox Church in Exeter will speak about issues facing the current pan-Orthodox Council.

Friday 22 July at 1pm. A Lunchtime Organ Recital by Jan Hage from Utrecht Cathedral. Free with retiring collection. Please support.

Sun 24 July, Trinity IX. 10.45am. Setting: Mass in A minor, by Claudio Casciolini (1697-1760). Motet: Hear My Prayer, O God, by Adrian Batten (1591-1637).

Sun 31 July, Trinity X. 10.45am. Setting: Mass in E flat, by Basil Harwood (1859-1949). Motet: Be Thou My Vision, by Bob Chilcott (b1955).

(Music for these last 2 Sundays of July may be altered depending on availability of voices.)

Advanced Notice:-
Tuesday & Thursday Vespers have a break for August. Except for Thu 4 Aug at 6.15pm. CBS Plainsong Mass for St John Mary Vianney, Curé D’Ars (1786-1859).

Wednesday 10 August at 7.30 pm. Recital by Olesya Rostovskaya of music for the Theremin. Please support what could be the first ever Theremin concert in Exeter.

Fulda Cathedral High Altar – Assumption of Mary
Dom zu Fulda Hochaltar – Mariä Himmelfahrt

Richard Barnes.

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While May had all the Festivals (Rogation, Ascension, Pride, Pentecost, Trinity & Corpus Christi), June still has plenty to offer, so we hope to see you at St Michael’s.

At 6pm each Tuesday and Thursday, there is Plainsong Vespers & Meditation, though on Thurs 9 June there will be a CBS Mass for St Columba of Iona.

Celebrate Corpus Christi with us on Thurs 26 May at 7.30pm. Sung Mass with Procession, witnessing to the presence of God’s Love in the world.

Likewise Friday 27 May at 7.30pm, when we were privileged to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme, to distil his extensive knowledge of Church History in a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” An excellent evening with 85 people hearing and discussing an enthralling overview of 2 millennia in 1 hour – Thank you.

Sun 29 May Trinity I, 10.45am. Mass for 3 voices, by William Byrd. Motet: Si iniquitates observaveris, by Samuel Wesley.

Sun 5 June Trinity II, 10.45am. Missa l’Hora Passa, by Viadana. Motet: Litany to the Holy Spirit, by Hurford; Sweet Spirit, comfort me, by Herrick.

June 5th is also the Feast Day of St Boniface, a true European, born c.675 in Crediton, studied in Exeter, worked as missionary and bishop in what is now northern Germany, martyred in 754 at Dokkum in the Netherlands, and buried in Fulda. In Aug 2012 St Michael’s Choir visited and sang in the splendid baroque cathedral which now covers his shrine.

Sun 5 June 6pm Evensong & Benediction – Sumsion Responses, Brewer in D Canticles; both Organists of Gloucester Cathedral. Psalm 44. Evening Hymn by Balfour Gardiner.

Thurs 9 June 6pm, CBS Mass for St Columba of Iona. All welcome.

Thurs 9 June at 7.30pm in Exeter Cathedral. If you missed Bp Sarah Mullally’s St Michael’s Lecture “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?”, you can hear her address the same subject.

Sat 11 June, kicking off at 7pm, UPLOAD at Exeter Cathedral, for young people 11-21 (revised down) who don’t do church – live bands, skate park, big screen gaming, sumo wrestling, giant inflatables and prayer!

Sun 12 June Trinity III, Music Sunday 10.45am. Introit: Cantate Domino, by Pitoni. Setting: Missa Sancti Nicolai, Mass in G major by F J Haydn. Motet: 8-part Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) by Giovanni Gabrieli.

12th – 14th June is also my best guess for when the 2 young Peregrine chicks should be fledging from the nestbox. Once they are competent flyers they will likely continue to roost in the box for a couple of weeks further.

Thurs 16th – St Richard of Chichester, 1253, famous for the Prayer – “Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, For all the benefits Thou hast given me, For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly” – better known in the 1970s as the song “Day by day” from the Stephen Schwartz musical Godspell.

Sun 19 June Trinity IV, 10.45am. Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. Motet: Sicut Cervus, both by Palestrina.

Sun 19 June at 4pm, Afternoon Tea and Concert with The Exeter Chorale. Please join us for a generous helping of mainly Victorian vocal and organ music, served with home-made cakes, tea or coffee. All for £8 (£5 for Mount Dinham residents and students, children free). The programme will feature a Te Deum composed by HRH Prince Albert, Ave Maria by Mendelssohn, The Lost Chord, and much more!

Wed 22 June 7.30pm St Michael’s Lectures are delighted to welcome back Dr Karen O’Donnell, former research student here, now Research Fellow at Durham University working in Digital Theology and ministry training, to talk on the topic “Help for Heroes: PTSD, Warrior Recovery and the Church.”

Sun 26 June Trinity V, 10.45am. Mass in C&F. Motet: Beati Quorum Via, both by C V Stanford.

CANCELLED Apologies, this Concert has now been CANCELLED; Mon 27 June 7.30pm at St Michael’s, The Fisher Consort.

Mon 27 Jun is the 152nd anniversary of the death of John Dinham, tea merchant, philanthropist and developer of Mt Dinham.

Wed 29 June is the 2nd anniversary of the death of Revd Dr John Hughes, much-loved former Curate of this Parish. Matins at 9.30 and Low Mass at 10am will be said on this the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul. Blogs related to tragically early death of John Hughes may be found via Fr John Hughes RIP

Sunday 3 July, 10.45am Mass, plus at 6pm we will have our normal 1st Sunday Evensong & Benediction with a cappella music by Thomas Tallis and William Mundy.

Richard Barnes.

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Please try to support the John Thurmer Memorial Lecture on Friday 27th May at 7.30pm at St Michael’s. It will be a privilege and a joy to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme who was a colleague and friend of Canon John Thurmer for many years. Professor Orme has a distinguished career studying Church History and medieval society & childhood, especially in the West country.

Reminder: Wed 27 April at 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lectures welcome Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton, to talk on the topic “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?” continuing our theme of religious reflection on current social concerns.

With an abundance of Feasts this month, the Choir has a wealth of beautiful music to share with you.

Rogation Sunday, 1st May, 10.45am Sung Mass and Procession around Mount Dinham. Missa “Entre vous filles” by Lassus, and “Thou visitest the Earth and blessest it” by Greene.

Sun 1 May we also have our 6pm First Sunday Choral Evensong & Benediction. To mark Rogation Sunday, the Anthem will be “The Heavens are telling the Glory of God” by Franz Joseph Haydn from his Oratorio, The Creation. Come & see why Choral Evensong is the fastest growing service in the C of E.

Thurs 5 May, 40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. Ascension Day Matins is sung at 7.30am from the West Gallery, followed by breakfast.

Thurs 5 May at 7.30pm, Sung Mass for Ascension Day. Music is Spatzenmesse (Sparrow Mass) by W A Mozart and “Ascendit Deus” by Peter Philips. This is a joint Parish service and CBS Mass for May. The Sermon preached by Fr Christopher can be read here.

Sat 7 May – Exeter Pride. We welcome any who want to show solidarity with Exeter’s LGBTQ+ communities to join us for Sung Matins at 9.30am at St Michael’s, and/or to join the Christian group in the Pride Procession from the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12noon.

Sat 7 May at 4.30pm Choral Evensong following a Diocesan Safeguarding Training Day – all welcome.

Sun 8 May, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Our Archbishops are asking all Christians to pray especially this week for better Witness and Evangelism to our secular society. St Michael’s continues to offer diversity and welcome to all – traditional Church for today! Mass Setting is Sumsion in F, and the Motet “O God the King of Glory” by Purcell.

We are much saddened to report the death of Fr Roger Shambrook SSC on Friday 6th May; his visits to St Michael’s to celebrate Mass and preach over the past year or so were always appreciated. Fr Roger had ministered with great devotion over many years to the people of Torquay. We offer our prayers and sympathy to all who knew him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. The Requiem Funeral Mass for Fr Shambrook will take place at 2pm on Friday 13 May at St Mary Steps Church, EX1 1BB.

Photograph by Jamie Bowen

Sat 14th May at 3pm. Christian Aid tea party at 95 Howell Rd hosted by the Vicar. Bring a cake or buy a cake!

Sun 15 May, Whitsunday/Pentecost, 10.45am. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Sung Mass with Mass in F, by Josef Rheinberger, and Motet “If ye love me” by Philip Stopford. Revel in the rich romanticism of Rheinberger and the lush harmonies of Stopford.

Sun 15 May, at 7pm in Exeter Cathedral, “The Kingdom Come”, a Diocese of Exeter service in response to the Archbishops’ call to prayer. A pilgrimage of worship around the Cathedral to pray reflectively using prayer spaces especially created. Music with University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir and ending with night prayer.

Sun 22 May, Trinity, 10.45am. Sung Mass with Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass” and the Motet “Duo Seraphim” by Guerrero.

Thurs 26 May, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with Vespers at 6pm and Sung Mass at 7.30pm. We process the Blessed Sacrament around Mount Dinham (weather permitting) accompanied by Hymns. Our Music this year features the 16th century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero with “Missa Inter Vestibulum” and Motet “O Sacrum Convivium”.

Please do put Friday 27 May at 7.30pm in your Diaries, when we are privileged to welcome University of Exeter Department of History Professor Emeritus Nicholas Orme, who will distil his extensive knowledge of Church History to give a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” Entry free, all welcome; we look forward to seeing you.

Sun 29 May, Trinity II, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Music t.b.c.

And finally, don’t forget our nest box camera can be viewed on the “Peregrine Falcons” website page; donations welcome. The eggs laid at Easter are due to hatch as April turns into May.

Richard Barnes.

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