The new lay-led Services of the Word at St Mary’s continue to develop in their scope with the addition of new musical items.

We have been introducing responsorial psalms over the past few months, with several of the lay leaders acting as cantors, and we sing the responses at the Book of Common Prayer Services. Now we’re very excited to be bringing to life a brand new Te Deum setting for congregation and organ, written especially for St Mary’s by Graham Titus.

Graham, who has recently celebrated his 70th birthday, read music at Cambridge, where he played the organ and sang and composed. He then had a very successful career as a singer, and has now decided to compose full time. His Te Deum is written for congregation and organ, with optional descant passages for the choir. We’ve had a couple of practice sessions after the 11.15 service , with a good number of the congregation staying behind to familiarise themselves with the music. A recording has been made available to everyone to help with learning, and so now we feel ready to sing it in the service for the first time on the 26th January when it will be part of the Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer service.