Combined benefices: The Feast of All Saints
Here is the special services announcement for the Feast of All Saints, beginning with the Vigil thereof on Friday 31 October. The choir have made a special effort, and we are all pleased and obliged that they have managed to do so despite the claims upon their time where there are young children in a household. We are also greatly obliged to HG the duke of Taunton and Mr Paul Viney, Churchwardens, and to Headmaster Trulock of the Beechbourne Free School, for the arrangements they have put in train for All Hallows’ Eve activities to occupy the young people of the parishes, which has helped to make possible this revised service schedule.
Remember that for all three parishes, the Mattins and Evensong settings for Friday and Saturday are plainchant, in accordance with the solemnity.
Evensong on the Vigil shall have the following anthems:
S Margaret Woolfont Magna:
‘Audivi vocem’, Thos Tallis
S Aldhelm Woolfont Crucis:
‘O quam gloriosum est regnum / Benedictio et claritas’, Wm Byrd
SS Mary and Leonard Woolfont Abbas:
‘Justorum animæ’, Op. 38, No. 1, Sir Chas Villiers Stanford
Mass for the Feast of All Saints is now as follows, on the Saturday:
Hymns, all three parishes:
‘Immortal, invisible, God only wise’, W Chalmers Smith, to ‘S Denio’
‘All my hope on God is founded’, Robt Bridges after Joachim Neander, to ‘Michael’
‘For all the saints, who from their labours rest’, Bp Wm Walsham How, to ‘Sine nomine’, RVW
‘Ye choirs of New Jerusalem’, Fulbert of Chartres, transl. Jno Mason Neale, to ‘S Fulbert’
‘Ye watchers and ye holy ones’, Athelstan Riley, to ‘Lasst uns erfreuen’
S Margaret Woolfont Magna:
Stanford, Fantasia (In festo omnium sanctorum), Op.121, No. 1
Anthem: ‘Ye choirs of New Jerusalem’, Stanford
Mass setting: Stanford in B flat
S Aldhelm Woolfont Crucis:
Willan, Prelude on ‘Old 104th’
Anthem: ‘My soul, there is a country’, Parry
Mass setting: Darke in F
SS Mary and Leonard Woolfont Abbas:
Tallis, Iste confessor
Anthem: ‘Gaudeamus omne in Domino’, Byrd
Mass setting: Sumsion in A and D.
Our neighbour within the combined benefice Mr Edmond Huskisson sustained a slight injury recently; he is in our prayers and a special intention for his recovery is made in the Masses on the Feast of All Saints this Saturday.
You are reminded that the Lectionary provisions are as follows:
For Friday as Vigil:
Mattins, 1st, Wisdom vii. 15; 2nd, 2 Timothy ii;
Evensong, 1st, Wisdom viii. 1 – 19; 2nd, Luke xxi. 5.
For Saturday as Proper to All Saints:
Mattins, 1st, Wisdom iii. 1 – 10; 2nd, Hebrews xi. 38 – xii. 7;
Evensong, 1st, Wisdom v. 1 – 17; 2nd, Rev. xix. 1 – 17.
The Epistle for the Feast of All Saints is Rev. vii. 2.
The Gospel is S Matthew v. 1.
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NOTICES for ALL SAINTS: The Eve of the Feast is intended as a Vigil. At Wolfdown House and at Beechbourne Free School, arrangements have been put in place for the entertainment of the children and young people of the District, of all faith communities and none, on that evening, at times which do not preclude their going to Evensong or such other services as their families attend, if any. These activities are traditional countryside activities from our own country, not American. There shall of course be treats; however, the Americanisation and commercialisation of the Vigil of All Hallows is not being countenanced; and an equal quantity of food, in a non-perishable form, is being set aside for the poor and the needy and the ongoing appeals, to that being provided for the children. We are obliged to Cllr Gates and The Woolford House Hotel and its kitchens; to Mrs Viney, Housekeeper, Wolfdown House; and to Rose James, the Rector’s housekeeper, for their donations of time, skill, and ingredients in catering the same, and to HG the duke of Taunton, Lady Crispin Fitzjames-Holles-Clare-Malet, Sir Thomas Douty, Mr Lew Salmon OBE, TH the Nawab and Begum of Hubli, Mr and Mrs Alam Mirza, and Mr Sher Mirza for their very material support as well.
HG the duke of Taunton, as Churchwarden, magistrate, DL, and for the Taunton Estate, has the following statement to make:
His Grace adverts the attention of families with children to the arrangements made for them for All Hallow’s Eve. Alternate forms of celebration are of course open to anyone fool enough to undertake them, but are discouraged.
In reference to this, His Grace further notes that Pebdown Wood, Pebdown generally, and Pebbury Rings, are closed to public access at present. An enquiry is in process by the Wiltshire Police NPT for the area into suspected vandalism and other matters. Additionally, the sites are to be reviewed by English Heritage, Natural England, the National Trust, and a team from Wessex Archæology; His Grace shall advise further in due course. His Grace’s keepers are assisting in the closure of the sites to the public, and the public are strongly advised against chancing their arms just now.
Taunton.
Cllr Gates has the following statement:
The Unitary Authority support the review of sites and access issues in Pebdown as outlined by the duke of Taunton above, after the police enquiries shall have been completed. Measures are under consideration for changes to the management of and access to the area. The public are asked to be patient during this process. The Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable have asked that I impress upon the constituency the importance of not interfering with their enquiry; regrettably, the actions of some have left it necessary that the area as a whole be made off-limits to public access for a time.
