Common Praise Words edition

Hymns Ancient and Modern

• Publisher: Canterbury Press
• Year: 2000
• eBook ISBN: 9781848258884
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christianity

Since it was first introduced in the Summer of 2000, Common Praise the new Hymns Ancient & Modern has sold over one hundred thousand copies, and been adopted by parishes in every diocese in England and Wales including eight English cathedrals and in five of the seven dioceses in Scotland. It is also used in numerous schools, colleges, hospitals, residential homes, retreat houses, religious communities, crematoria, missions and military garrison chapels.

HYMNS THROUGH THE YEAR

364

A CITY radiant as a bride

and bright with gold and gem,

a crystal river clear and wide,

the new Jerusalem;

a city wrought of wealth untold,

her jewelled walls aflame

with green and amethyst and gold

and colours none can name.

2 A holy city, clear as glass,

where saints in glory dwell;

through gates of pearl her people pass

to fields of asphodel.

In robes of splendour, pure and white,

they walk the golden floor,

where God himself shall be their light

and night shall be no more.

3 A city ever new and fair,

the Lamb’s eternal bride;

no suffering or grief is there

and every tear is dried.

There Christ prepares for us a place,

from sin and death restored,

and we shall stand before his face,

the ransomed of the Lord.

TIMOTHY DUDLEY-SMITH b. 1926

Revelation 21

365

A MIGHTY wind invades the world,

so strong and free on beating wing:

it is the spirit of the Lord

from whom all truth and freedom spring.

2 The Spirit is a fountain clear

for ever leaping to the sky,

whose waters give unending life,

whose timeless source is never dry.

3 The Spirit comes in tongues of flame,

with love and wisdom burning bright:

the wind, the fountain and the fire

combine in this great feast of light.

4 O tranquil Spirit, bring us peace,

with God the Father and the Son:

we praise you, blessèd Trinity,

unchanging, and for ever One.

from Stanbrook Abbey

366

A SAFE stronghold our God is still,

a trusty shield and weapon;

he’ll keep us clear from all the ill

that hath us now o’ertaken.

The ancient prince of hell

hath risen with purpose fell;

strong mail of craft and power

he weareth in this hour;

on earth is not his fellow.

2 With force of arms we nothing can,

full soon were we down-ridden;

but for us fights the proper man,

whom God himself hath bidden.

Ask ye, ‘Who is this same?’

Christ Jesus is his name,

the Lord Sabaoth’s Son;

he, and no other one,

shall conquer in the battle.

*3 And were this world all devils o’er,

and watching to devour us,

we lay it not to heart so sore;

not they can overpower us.

And let the prince of ill

look grim as e’er he will,

he harms us not a whit;

for why? His doom is writ;

a word shall quickly slay him.

4 God’s word, for all their craft and force,

one moment will not linger,

but, spite of hell, shall have its course;

’tis written by his finger.

And though they take our life,

goods, honour, children, wife,

yet is their profit small;

these things shall vanish all:

The City of God remaineth.

MARTIN LUTHER 1483–1546

tr. THOMAS CARLYLE 1795–1881

367

ALL glory be to God on high,

his peace on earth proclaim;

to all his people tell abroad...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• Introductory matter
• Morning
• Evening
• Advent
• Christmas
• Christingle
• New Year
• Epiphany
• Baptism of Jesus
• Candlemas
• Lent
• Passiontide and Holy Week
• Palm Sunday
• Maundy Thursday
• Easter
• Ascension
• Pentecost
• Trinity Sunday
• Dedication
• Saints
• Blessed Virgin Mary
• Saint Michael and All Angels
• Transfiguration
• Creation
• Harvest
• Holy Communion
• Baptism and Confirmation
• Marriage
• Healing
• Funerals, Commemoration, Remembrance and All Souls
• National
• General Liturgical Section
• Hymns through the Year
• Indexes are Given at the End
• Copyright