St Matthew’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations 1955

ST. MATTHEW’S PARISH
HASTINGS

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Dedication of Youth Hall and Recorded Bells

to the Memory of

WILLIAM TASMAN DRAKE

Canon of the Diocese
and
Vicar of Hastings, 1938 – 1946

Form of Service

SATURDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER, 1955,
at 2.45 pm.

When the Choir and Clergy and People are assembled at the entrance to the Hall this hymn shall be sung:

Who would true valour see
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather;
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avow’d intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright;
He’ll with a giant fight,
But he will have the right
To be a pilgrim.

No goblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit;
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, fly away:
He’ll not fear what men say:
He’ll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.

after which shall be said:

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord,
Who hath made heaven and earth.
Be thou my strong rock and house of defence,
That thou mayest save me.
Lord hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father…from evil.   Amen.

Then shall follow these Prayers:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who art the chief Corner Stone of Thy Church; Bless this Building which is now completed in Thy Name; and grant that it may tend to promote thy glory, and the welfare of the youth of this Parish. Fill those who shall use it with a spirit of love towards Thee, and towards all men. Within these walls may harsh thoughts be ever subdued, and unkind words un-spoken, and may those who here shall learn the way of Thy statutes walk before Thee with a perfect heart, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom Thou dost bring up in Thy stedfast fear and love; keep, we beseeech Thee, those who shall meet from time to time in this place under the protection of Thy good providence, and make them to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy Holy Name. May they never be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, we pray Thee that Thy blessing may rest upon the Scouts and Guides, the Cubs and Brownies of this Parish. Help them with Thy grace to serve our Church and Country and to keep their Law and Promise. Make them humble and friendly, eager for adventure, alert and prepared for service. Give them courage to dare to do right, make them both strong to fight and stedfast to endure, and may their lives be filled with the joy that spreads happiness everywhere. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

O Lord God, who art the giver of all wisdom, and willest that children shall be brought up in the fear and love of thy holy Name; Pour down, we beseech Thee, Thy loving kindness upon all who shall be gathered together in this place, and grant that they may grow in grace and be delivered from all evils of body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Vicar say,

IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST WE DEDICATE THIS BUILDING TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF HIS SERVANT WILLIAM TASMAN DRAKE IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST AMEN.

Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with Whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; we praise thy Name for all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear, and herein we remember especially William Tasman Drake, priest; beseeching thee of thy gracious goodness shortly to accomplish the number of thy elect and to hasten thy kingdom; that we. with all those who are departed in the true faith of Thy holy Name may have our perfect consummation and bliss both of body and soul in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Eternal Lord God, who holdest all souls in life, we beseech thee to shed forth upon thy whole Church in Paradise and on earth the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort: and grant that we, following the good example of those who have loved and served thee here and are now at rest, may at last enter with them into the fulness of thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The congregation shall sit – it is asked that silence shall be observed – while the Choir and Clergy proceed to the Church singing Psalm 122.

1.   I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
2.   Our feet shall stand in thy gates: O Jerusalem.
3.   Jerusalem is built as a city: that is at unity in itself.
4.   For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord: to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto The name of The Lord.
5.   For There is the seat of judgment: even the seat of the house of David.
6.   O pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.
7.   Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8.   For my brethren and companions’ sakes: I will wish thee prosperity.
9.   Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God: I will seek to do Thee good.

The congregation shall stand while the Vicar shall say:

Almighty God, we beseech thee to accept this offering at the hands of thy servants who have given it; Bless, sanctify and hallow these Recorded Bells, and grant that they may call together thy faithful people to praise and worship thy Holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST WE DEDICATE THESE RECORDED BELLS TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF HIS SERVANT WILLIAM TASMAN DRAKE IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST AMEN.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall be called by the sound of these Bells to thine house of prayer, may enter into thy gates with thanksgiving, and into thy courts with praise; and finally may sing the song of the Lamb in the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall by reason of sickness or other necessity be hindered from coming into the house of the Lord, may by the sound of these Bells be reminded of the prayers of thy Church and rejoice in the Communion of saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Bells shall ring while the Clergy and Choir return to the Canon Drake Hall, the congregation meanwhile being seated.

Then shall this Hymn be sung:

How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?

Lo! These are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light;
And in the Blood of Christ have wash’d
Those robes that shine so bright.

Now with triumphal palms they stand
Before the Throne on high,
And serve the God they love amidst
The glories of the sky.

Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray;
God is their Sun, whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.

The Lamb, which dwells amidst the Throne,
Shall o’er them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment Divine,
And all their footsteps guide.

‘Midst pastures green He’ll lead His flock,
Where living streams appear;
And God the Lord from every eye
Shall wipe off every tear.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom we adore,
Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

ADDRESS

Hymn 298

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransom’d, heal’d, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him still the same as ever.
Slow to chide, and swift to bless;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Father-like. He tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.

Angels in the height, adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Saints triumphant, bow before Him,
Gather’d in from every race;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this place, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and let thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, the fountain of all charity, who only makest households to be at one together; Vouchsafe to us, we beseech thee, thy holy and joyful gift of unity, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no man evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all men; 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 Ghost be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

HART PRINT