We were absolutely delighted to receive a grant from the Choral Evensong Trust to help us lay on a beautiful service of Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer, followed by a Patronal Feast in memory of St Michael, our patron saint.
Once again David McCulloch and the incredible Cantus Vesperi choir produced an amazing service. Starting with Duruflé’s Ubi Caritas, David led us through the service, which was beautifully lit by candles, the choir themselves illuminated by discreet, clip on music lights. The Preces, Responses and Collects were by John Sanders, and Thomas Morley’s Fauxbourdons settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sublime.
After the Anthem, Orlando Gibbons’s Hosanna to the Son of David, Rev Mark Pullinger preached on our two texts (Leviticus 19 and Matthew 22, 34-46), leading us on the journey of Jesus’ inquisition at the hands of, and rebuttal of, the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes – all the more striking granted that our second lesson was read by a lawyer!
We had three lovely hymns, belted out on the recently repaired organ by Rev Mark, and following Richard Marlow’s setting of the Final Responses, we gathered for a glass of prosecco, before walking up the path to the Hall for the most amazing dinner laid on by Hilary and her team of helpers.
The church was full, and it was a lovely occasion to send Rev Jackie off on her way as she prepares to leave the Island and begin her retirement near her family on the mainland.
We are enormously grateful to the Choral Evensong Trust for their generous support of this wonderful evening, and to Hilary and her team for laying on such a spectacular feast. God bless St Michael!