Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11, September 11th 2001, A Service of Remembrance, St Paul's Cathedral, London, 14th September 2001

Front Cover of Order of Service
© 2011 Martin Brookes

St Paul's Cathedral

A Service of Remembrance
With The American Community
In The United Kingdom

Friday 14th September 2001
at 12 noon


"On September 11th 2001 I was at work in St Georges Church, Bloomsbury, London. I was working in the church office and I received a e-mail from a friend to tell me the news. As the news of the day unfolded there was great concern at the church as no knew how safe people were who we knew. At the time the Church Wardens David and Diana Wood (Diana Procter, barrister) were staying in New York not far from the Towers it was days before we heard news from them. Our treasurer had work friends work in one of the Tower for Morgan Stanley. The Church at that time had quite a few American families in the congregation."

On Friday 14th 2011 the UK held its first major Service of Remembrance at St Paul's Cathedral.


The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral was conducted by John Scott, Organist and Director of Music of St Paul's Cathedral.


The Organ was played for the service by Huw Williams, Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music of St Paul's Cathedral.

Before the Service The Organ was played by Mark Williams Assistant Sub-organist of St Paul's Cathedral

The music played before the Service

Prelude and Fugue in F Minor, BWV 534  J. S. Bach

Adagio from Symphony No.3  Louis Vierne

Solemn Melody  H. Walford Davies

O Mensch bewein' dein' Sunde gross, BWV 622  J. S. Bach

"Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations  Edward Elgar

Adagio for Strings  Samuel Barber, arr. R. Naylor

Amazing Grace arr. Dan Hustad

Elegy C. Hubert H. Parry

Elegy  George Thalben-Ball

At 11.45 the Ambassador of the United States of America and Mrs William Farish were received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

At 11.50 the Choir, the college of Minor Canons, Leaders of Faith Communities, Visiting Ecumenical Dignitaries, Visiting Clergy, Honorary Canons and the College of Canons proceeded to their places in the Quire.

Also at 11.50 the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens was received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

At 11.55 His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales was greeted by the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens at the foot of the Cathedral steps and accompanied by him to the Great West Door, where he was received by the Dean and Chapter and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

At 11.58 her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are greeted by the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens at the foot of the Cathedral steps and accompanied by him to the Great West Door, where they were received by the Dean and Chapter and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

The congregation stood as Her Majesty The Queen's procession moved through the Nave.

The National Anthem of The United States of America was sung:

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twighlight's last gleaming .
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, wer so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O! say does the star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

words Francis Scott Key  Music Traditional

The congregation remained standing as silence was kept and candle was lit by a representative of the American Community.

The Choir then Sung the Introit:

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and let my crying  come unto thee

Words Psalm 102.1  Music Henry Purcell 1659-1695

The Dean gave THE BIDDING

We come together as members of the free world to stand alongside the people of
the United States of America in their grief wherever they may be.

We pray especially as members of this Nation with the American Community in the
United Kingdom for all who have lost their lives in the devastation of the recent days. We
pray for them, their families, their friends, their colleagues; and we remember all who are
injured and who must now face the traumas of mind, of body, of spirit.

But we pray also for all the peoples of this world: for a new vision,  a new obedience
to God's law of love, a new determination to stand firm in the ways of righteousness,
a new hope.

And so we bring to God all our thoughts, our pain, our prayers, in the words which have
been given by Jesus Christ our Lord as we say together.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom
come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Hymn was sung:

IMMORTAL, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.............................

Words W Chalmers Smith 1824 - 1908 

Tune St Denio
adapted from setting in
John Roberts's Caniadau y Cyssegre 1839


The First Lesson was read by The Honourable William S Farish, The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Court of St. James's

Isaiah 61.1-4, 11

THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent................

The Choir then sang PSALM 23

His goodness shall follow me always,
to the end of my days.

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want..............

The Second Lesson was read by His Royal Highness The Duke of Endinburgh.

The Second lesson is written in St Paul's Letter to the Romans.

Romans 8. 31 -39

WHAT shall we then say to these things?.....................

The Choir then sang the Anthem.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away; and there was no more sea......................

Words Revelation 21. 1-4

Music Edgar Bainton 1880 -1956


The Canon in Residence and Mrs Marcia Molloy lead The Prayers

ETERNAL, God, hear the prayers of your people for you know the anguish of our
hearts and the depth of our sorrow. In faith and trust we commend to your care
and love all who died in New York, in Washington, in Pennsylvania.

GOD, of all compassion hear our prayer for families broken-hearted in their grief
and loss. Hold them in their pain, deliver them from despair and give them
courage to meet the days to come.

LORD of life and God of our salvation, hear our prayer for those who are injured
and hurt. Strengthen all who care for them and heal the wounds of body, mind
and spirit.

GRACIOUS God, we thank you for the sacrifice and skill of the emergency services
and all who risked their lives to rescue this in danger.

Merciful God, we pray for peoples and nations bleeding still from the unhealed
wounds of their history. Deliver them from evil that children everywhere may
grow up free from fear and in the ways of peace.

GOD, our strength and our redeemer, you do not leave us alone in this life nor
abandon us in death. When days are full of darkness lead us by your light, renew
us by your sustaining spirit, and bring  us all to your eternal kingdom.

ETERNAL, Lord God, you hold all souls in life: shed forth we pray, upon your whole
Church in paradise and on earth the bright beams of your light and heavenly
comfort; and grant that we, following the good example of those who have loved and
served you here may at the last enter with them into the fullness of your eternal joy.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A hymn was sung:

LEAD us, heavenly Father, lead us
O'er the world's tempestuous sea
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but thee;
Yet possessing every blessing
If our God our Father be...............

Words James Edmeston 1791 -1867

Tune Mannhiem
F. Filitz's Choralbuch 1847

An Address was given by The Most Reverend and Right Honourable George Carey
Archbishop of Canterbury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmpo0csiIMs

The video also include the next hymn that followed

MINE eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out of the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of this terrible sword:
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on!.................

Words Julia Ward Howe 1819 - 1910

Tune American traditonal

The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the final Blessing

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good;
render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of
the Holy Spirit:

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you
and remain with you always Amen.

The National Anthem one verse was sung:

GOD save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victourious,
Happy and glourious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!

Words Thesaurus Musicus c.1745
Music Traditional.

Organ Music after the Service

Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 546  J.S. Bach