Author Archives: maddg

I was supposed to post this yesterday but got out of order. This hymn of humility is a bit of a riddle. The words were written by Notre Dame Sister Mary Xavier (aka Sybil Partridge), but Canon Ernest Wilberforce is … Continue reading →

This poem by Richard Baxter, a C17 Puritan minister famously expelled by the Church of England, is set here to the even older tune FARRANT, attributed to Richard Farrant. This is a hymn of humble acceptance that is marvellously, somehow, … Continue reading →

This is a sensible hymn for Christian unity with a text by the ever reliable Brian Wren and here set to HAMPTON POYLE by Peter Cutts, with its cunning cascade of triplets. The text is at Hope Publishing. If you … Continue reading →

I found another hymn I’ve never covered before in the New Living Parish Hymn Book. The words were written by Rowland Hill who was a pioneer in vaccination of all things. The text was altered by Mary L. Duncan at … Continue reading →

This song of praise is more Protestant hymnody in this Catholic hymnal, with a Charles Wesley text set to HELMSLEY. The editor diplomatically notes that it is a C18 English melody. Hymnary digs deeper: John Wesley attributed the tune HELMSLEY … Continue reading →

This is Gelineau Psalm 41 (42), whose freely sung text is no friend of Band in a Box. It also has a use in funerals. It is the original Grail text. I made backing for the antiphon at least: My … Continue reading →

This is a hymn by an actual Australian, in this case Richard Connolly who wrote both the words and the music. This is dated 1971, so his usual text writer James McAuley was still alive at that stage, but Connolly … Continue reading →

While I am finding the occasional Australian hymn in the New Living Parish Hymn Book, I am more finding the sort of hymns still being suggested to be played in the 1980s in Australian Catholic churches. I’ve done this rather … Continue reading →

This is described here as a “Negro Spiritual”, as arranged by Sister Luanne Durst, but then then the hymnal says it is from The Australian Hymn Book where it is noted to be arranged by Charles Cleal. I’m not sure … Continue reading →

I had never yet heard of this hymn of praise, with a text by George Herbert – yes that poet – here set to the very stirring LUCKINGTON by Basil Harwood. I suspect it is in high rotation in Anglican … Continue reading →