Singing in Christian Unity : Gibbons is the name...

The English composer Orlando Gibbons had some hymn tunes published quite late in his llife . He contributed 17 tunes to a collection published in 1623. Some are still sung today .

"In the forthcoming 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'," says Monsignor Philip Whitmore , "some of you may find yourselves singing one of Gibbons' best tunes to the words : 'O thou who at thy Eucharist didst pray that all thy Church might be forever one' .

St John's Gospel, Chapter 17, includes Our Lord's wonderful prayer during the Last Supper, 'Father may they all be one, even as you and I are one'. That text is very much in our minds during this week of prayer. It was very much in the mind of William Turton, who wrote the words of this hyms around 1880. The Eucharist, of course is the great sacrament of unity, the mystery through which God's people are gathered together to become one bread, one body. The hymn has a refrain that reminds us of this.

Turton's hymn ends with a beautiful reflection on the church in heaven , when sacraments shall cease, when the Chruch will be truly one with all the saints above in one unbroken peace, in one unbounded love . Then Our Lord's prayer will be perfectly fulfilled . Then will the Church be one with the Trinity in Unity."

Music historian Monsignor Philip Whitmore in a programme produced by Veronica Scarisbrick.

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