Hope Of The Hopeless

Commissioned by St Jude's United Church as part of their sesquicentennial celebrations. The sonnet which the piece sets was also especially commissioned from Phoebe Wynne.

The setting took J.S.B. Monsell's hymn O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! as its borrowed material as Monsell was the vicar of Egham Parish church and was instrumental in the building of St Jude's Englefield Green.

This is the second setting of the sonnet, the first being A Peace All Too Fair.

c8 minutes

SSAATTBB & Organ

Sonnet for St Jude

Phoebe Wynne

Hope of the hopeless, Hope of the helpless,
    the name our Lord God crowns our patron Jude,
To bring safe miracles to those of us
    for whom grief comes and despair dares to intrude.

St Jude, come ever to our assistance
    most holy apostle always and today;
You who walked beside our Lord of the dance –
    Give us the consolation of Heav’n we pray.

In return he shall lead us to our life,
    for to endure what we only just bear
is a beautiful struggle, empty of strife;
    What awaits is a peace all too fair.

    Hope of the helpless, Hope of the hopeless,
    Bless us all and in His image make us.

Recent Performances:

28th October 2009 Gloucester Cathedral (Evensong). Royal Holloway Chapel Choir, Conducted by Rupert Gough, Organ Will Baldry

1st November 2009 St Jude's Church, Englefield Green (Evensong). Royal Holloway Chapel Choir, Conducted by Rupert Gough, Organ Will Baldry

4th November 2009 Royal Holloway, Egham. Royal Holloway Chapel Choir, Conducted by Rupert Gough, Organ Will Baldry