DEDICATION OF THE BELLS
The form of service is Evensong from the Book of
Common Prayer, originally written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549 based
on mediaeval prayer for the evening and
night.
The Congregation is invited to listen to this Choral
Evensong sung by former Choral Scholars from Trinity College, Cambridge and to
join in where the words appear in bold type.
When the
Bishop of Norwich arrives in the South Porch, the congregation is asked to
stand as the Rector welcomes him.
The Choir
sings the Introit from the Chancel steps
when the Bishop enters the Church.
HYMN
1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and and adore him: the Lord is his name. |
3 Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine: truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness, these are the offerings to lay on his shrine. |
2 Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness: high on his heart he will bear it for thee, comfort thy sorrows,and answer thy prayerfulness, guiding thy steps as may best for thee be. |
4 These, though we bring them in trembling and
fearfulness, he will accept for the name that is dear; mornings of
joy give for evenings of tearfulness, trust for our trembling and hope for our fear. |
( Tune: Was Lebet. Words: J.S.B. Monsell 1811 - 75 )
The Congregation remains standing whilst
the Choir sings the Responses.
O Lord open thou our lips:
And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.
O God make speed to save us:
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord:
The Lord’s name be praised.
The
Congregation sits and remains seated until after the Nunc Dimittus has been
sung.
Choir sings:
PSALM 150
O praise God
in his holiness: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him in
his noble acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him in
the sound of the trumpet: praise him upon the lute and harp.
Praise him in
the cymbals and dances: praise him upon the strings and pipe.
Praise him
upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise him upon the loud cymbals.
Let everything
that hath breath: praise the Lord.
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.
FIRST LESSON
Isaiah: Chapter 62, verses 6 & 7 and 12 - 14.
Read by Lord Craig of Radley, Patron of the East Raynham Bell Tower Trust
Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen; all the day and the night they will never be silent. You who put the Lord in Remembrance, take no
rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise
in the earth. Go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people; build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift
up an ensign over the peoples. Behold
the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him and his recompense
before him” And they shall be called ‘The holy people, the redeemed of the
Lord’.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Choir sings:MAGNIFICAT
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth: all generations shall call
me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is
his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all
generations.
He hat shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered
the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath
exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the
rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant
Israel: as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed, for ever.
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.
SECOND LESSON
Revelation: Chapter 14, verses 1 to 3 and 6 to 7
Read by Viscount Raynham, Churchwarden
Then I looked, and lo, on
Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who
had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the
sound of many waters and like the sound of
loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on
their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four
living creatures and before the elders.
Then I saw another angel
flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim those who dwell on the
earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud
voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgement has come;
and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountain of water.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
The Choir sings:
NUNC DIMITTIS
Lord, now lettest thou, thy servant depart in peace:
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all
people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the
glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and t the Holy
Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall
be: world without end.
Amen.
The
Congregation stands.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Rector: 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 Catholick
Church; The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
The
Congregation to kneel or sit during the Lord’s Prayer and the sung Responses.
Rector:
Let us pray.
Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us,
Lord have mercy upon us.
Our Father, who 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 Choir sings the
Responses:
O Lord shew thy mercy upon us.
And grant us the salvation.
O Lord save the Queen.
And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
And make thy chosen people joyful.
O Lord save thy people.
And bless thine inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but
only thou, O God.
O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
COLLECTS
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the
whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we
offer for all thy faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may
serve thee in holiness and truth, to the glory of thy name; through our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the
world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass
our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by
thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the
love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the souls of the faithful, departed to the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
The
congregation remains seated during the singing of the Anthem, and for the
Bishop’s sermon.
ANTHEM
Rejoice in the Lord Alway (The Bell Anthem)
words from
Philippians 4: 4 - 7. Music by Henry Purcell.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.
And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
SERMON
The Rt. Revd.
Graham James, Bishop of Norwich.
The
Congregation stands.
During the next Hymn a collection is taken for Phase II
of the Bell Project - the Balcony and Balustrade.
HYMN
1 For all the saints who from their labours rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesu, be for ever blest. Alleluia. |
2 Thou wast their rock,
their fortress, and their might; thou, Lord, their
Captain in the well-fought fight; thou, in the darkness,
still their one true Light.
Alleluia. |
3 O may thy soldiers,
faithful, true, and bold, fight as the saints who
nobly fought of old, and win, with them. The
victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia. |
6 The golden evening
brightens in the west; soon, soon to faithful
warriors comes their rest: sweet is the calm of
Paradise the blest. Alleluia. |
4 O blest communion,
fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they
in glory shine; yet all are one in thee,
for all are thine.
Alleluia. |
7 But lo, there breaks a
yet more glorious day; the saints triumphant
rise in bright array: the King of Glory passes
on his way. Alleluia. |
5 And when the strife is
fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the
distant triumph-song, and hearts are brave
again and arms are strong.
Alleluia. |
8 From earth’s wide
bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, through gates of pearl
streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost. Alleluia |
(Tune: Sine Nomine. Words:
W.Walsham How 1823 - 97.)
The
Congregation kneels or sits for prayers led by the Bishop.
Bishop:
In union with the whole Church we join in prayer to
ourFather through his Son.
Lord, in your
Son Jesus Christ you have shown us the abundant generosity of your love. We thank you for all those who by giving of
their time and money have made possible the renewal and augmentation of the
bells in this church.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Father, you
have endowed us all with gifts to use for your praise and glory. Bless all
ringers who use their skills to hallow your name and to call your people to
worship.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord, you have
called us to be your holy people. Bless
the Church throughout the world that, though we come from different lands, we
may love you with the same love and live in the unity which the Holy Spirit
brings.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord, for your
faithful people life is changed but not ended by death. Grant peace to those who have died that they
may share in the fulness of your Son’s risen life.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
The
Congregation stands.
During the next hymn the Bishop and others move to the
West end of the church for the Dedication of the Bells.
HYMN
1 Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ, the paschal vistory to hymn in strains of holy joy. |
3 Triumphant in his glory now to him all power is given; to him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven |
2 For Judah’s Lion bursts his
chains, crushing the serpent’s head; and cries aloud through
death’s domains to wake the imprisoned dead. |
4 While we his soldiers
praise our King, his mercy we implore, within his palace bright to
bring and keep us evermore. |
5
All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.
Alleluia.
Amen.
(Tune:St.Fulbert.
Words: St.Fulbert of Chartres, died 1028.)
The
Congregation now turns to face the West end of the church.
Bishop: Our
help is in the name of the Lord.
All:Who
has made heaven and earth.
Bishop:Blessed
be the name of the Lord.
All:Henceforth
world without end.
Bishop: Almighty God, be pleased to accept at
your hands the offering of these bells and all the work that has been done in
this tower. Bless and sanctify and
hallow these bells and grant that their message may lift up the hearts of those
who hear them to the praise of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God world without
end.
All:Amen.
Bishop: Almighty God, we dedicate the Tenor bell
to you in thanksgiving for the Golden Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II. May your blessing always rest upon her.
All:Amen.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the queen.
One of the bell ropes is
handed to the Bishop by Mr. Alan Hughes of Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Bishop: Heavenly Father, pour your grace into
the hearts of those who ring these bells, may
they be mindful that they are rung to your honour and glory.
All:Amen.
The Bishop then hands the bell rope to the Rector.
Bishop: Receive these bells into your
charge. Take care that they are used in
the service of God and his glory.
The Rector hands the bell
rope to the Captain of the Tower. The Rector then leads the congregation in
saying the Angelus.
The angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary, And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
(Bell rings three times)
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, Be it unto me according to thy word.
(Bell rings three times)
The Word was made flesh, And dwelt among us.
(Bell rings three times)
Pray for us, holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.
Almighty God pour thy grace into our hearts, we
beseech thee, that as we have known the Incarnation of thy son by the message
of an angel so by his cross and passion we may be made partakers of his
glorious resurrection who lives and reigns with thee in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one god, world without end. Amen.
(Bell rings nine times)
Rector:Let the bells now be rung.
The bells ring.
CAROL
“Ding, dong merrily on high” sung by the Choir.
THE BLESSING
Bishop: Our help is in
the name of the Lord.
All: Who has made heaven and earth.
Bishop: Blessed be the name of
the Lord.
All: Henceforth
world without end.
Bishop: May Almighty God bless you, the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
HYMN
1. Let all the world in every corner sing,
my God and King. The
heavens 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 every corner sing,
my God and King. |
2 Let all the world in every
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
everycorner sing, my God and King. |
(Tune: Luckington.
Words: George Herbert 1593 - 1632.)
ORGAN VOLUNTARY
played by Mark
Jones
The Bishop, Clergy and Choristers process down to West
end of the church and the South Porch.
The Congregation leaves by the South
Porch.
BELL RINGING
A Touch on the Bells will be rung, led by Jeremy
Warren, Ringing Master of the Diocese.
Afterwards, there will be open ringing for all who
would like to stay and participate.
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Acknowledgements
All those involved in this project would like to thank
the Bishop of Norwich for coming here to bless these bells,
Mark Jones for playing the Organ and directing the Choir
and
the former Choral Scholars of Trinity College, Cambridge
for singing here today.
We also offer our heartfelt thanks to
those who have given so generously to fund the historic project.
The East Raynham Bell Tower Trust would particularly like to acknowledge the help, both practical and financial, of the Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers and all who have encouraged and coached
the East Raynham Tower band during the last three years.
Our grateful thanks go to Mrs. David Main and her Flower Ladies who decorated the church.
Thank you too for coming to share in this service. If you are a ringer please stay to ring afterwards.
Practices are on
Mondays at 7.30pm and ringers of any standard will be warmly welcomed.
h
Tower Captain: Mr. Laurie Mead, 21 The Street, West Raynham, Norfolk NR21 7EZ 01328 838239
Secretary : Viscountess Raynham, Pattesley House, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 7HT 01328 701818
Treasurer: Ms.Francoise Walker, The Street, West Raynham, Norfolk NR21 7 AD 01328 838318
Rector: Dr.Edward Bundock, The Rectory, West Raynham, Norfolk NR21 7HH 01328 838385
Churchwarden: Viscount Raynham, Pattesley House, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 7HT 01328 701818