Music

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1 From the earliest times, music has played an important role in Christian worship, as well as in the worship of the Church’s predecessor, the Jewish Church (e.g., Exodus 15:20-21). Anglicanism in particular has a rich musical heritage.

Our music is considered sacred and an integral part of most of our worship services. With texts dating as early as the 2nd century and tunes as early as the 6th century, our service music includes ancient Hebrew psalms, plainsong, and traditional Anglican chant.  Our 1940 Hymnal includes sources ranging from the medieval to the Carolingian era, from Latin and Eastern Church canon to choral and symphonic works, and from the great hymnists of the 17th – 20th centuries.  It is indeed a “richly varied treasure bequeathed us from every age of the Church” through which we may “make the words the utterance of our own souls; the music the expression of our own personal worship, our own joy or sorrow or brave determination.” [From the Preface of the 1940 Hymnal, p. vi.]
 
We are constantly looking for voices and musicians; if you are interested in the music ministry, please get in touch with us.
 

Featured Hymn

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (Tune: Webb)

 

Philadelphia, 1858 – Rev. Dudley A. Tyng (1825-1858) lies dying, his right arm mangled in an automated corn-shucker; four days later, in an attempt to save his life, it is amputated.  Just two weeks ago, in the heat of a rapidly expanding Second Great Awakening, fueled by Abolitionist and Evangelical fervor, he had preached an inspiring sermon to a huge YMCA crowd of 5000 men; over 1000 souls were saved.  Ordained an Episcopal priest in Alexandria, VA, Tyng had taken over his father Stephen Tyng’s pulpit at the Church of the Epiphany in Philadelphia.  Later ousted by the vestry over his outspoken anti-slavery sermons, Tyng took his faithful followers with him and founded the Church of the Covenant.  Now on his deathbed, he is asked if he has any last words for his beloved congregation, he replies, “Yes, father; tell them to stand up for Jesus.”  A week later a Presbyterian minister and devoted colleague of Tyng’s, Rev. George Sheffield, (1818-1888), preached a sermon on Ephesians 6:14 –“Stand,  therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,” finishing with a reading of a poem he had written, based on Tyng’s last words.  The Sunday school superintendant at Sheffield’s church distributed the poem as a leaflet.  One copy found its way to a Baptist newspaper, and from there it went worldwide.  In 1830, George J. Webb (1803-1887), while on board a ship, emigrating from England to America,  wrote a secular song, “’Tis Dawn, the Lark is Sing­ing.” In Boston he became organist at the Old South Church, serving almost 40 years, and he and Lowell Mason founded the Boston Academy of Music, where in 1833 he taught the 17-year-old William B. Bradbury.  In 1842 Webb’s tune was published as the hymn “The Morning Light Is Breaking,” and sometime later, Bradbury (1816-1886), famous for creating a new style of Sunday school children’s hymns, paired Webb’s tune with “Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus.”  Found in over 50 English language hymnals alone, Tyng’s dying words have found a lasting place in Christian hearts everywhere.

 
 
 
 

Playlists

Enjoy a random selection of hymns.