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.