Hark, the glad sound - the Saviour comes!

Frideswide is an obscure saint and very strongly located not just in Oxford, but in Christ Church. I wrote this hymn for her feast day (and our patronal festival) in 2022. It's dedicated to Richard Peers, then our Sub Dean, a priest of huge integrity, wisdom and gentleness from whom I learnt a lot. The tune is Highwood, because I love it. This is the house which holy Frideswide founded strong in God’s peace, unshaken, unafraid, choosing a life of prayer, of love and service, she taught God’s truth and brought God’s gracious aid. Once in this place, she healed God’s hurting people; here from her faith she built a house of grace; now in her presence we her light remember as she beholds our God with glowing face. Here stands the shrine, its fragments found and mended – marble and stone once carved with faithful care – craft that remade it after years of absence; her silent presence and her steadfast prayer. And here we come, to ask again for healing, kneeling in worship at the broken ...

Birinus, a seventh-century Continental churchman, is by tradition the missionary who converted the kingdom of Wessex. As such he is a patron saint of the diocese of Oxford.  A hymn commissioned by the Bishop of Dorchester (Birinus's original see, now an abbey church as the minster centre of an episcopal area in the diocese of Oxford.) The tune for this is Engleberg, and I can't think of any other that will fit it... but do try! With heart aflame, with courage undeterred  Birinus sowed the seed of God's True Word And faith sprang up to life in all who heard: alleluia! Where none had preached before, Birinus went  In faithful service to the God who sent  His only Son to call us to repent: Alleluia! With kindly teaching he showed forth God's grace  And all who listened saw in him Christ's face And knew the Love transcending time and space: Alleluia! And as we celebrate the truth he brought  We join with him to share the faith he taught And praise the God who o...