Parish Life
Hear two new works for the choir
The choir performed specially-commissioned settings of ‘O salutaris hostia’ and ‘Tantum ergo’ by Ottawa composer Gilles Leclerc at the Evensong service on November 16. These settings were written to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. Barnabas Parish.
An organ story: evolution of a grand instrument
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"167","attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft size-full wp-image-3440","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"319","height":"149","alt":"A photograph of the St. Barnabas organ."}}]]by Wesley R. Warren
(originally published in Canticum Novum, March 2007)
What is a Saint?
This article by Fr. Stewart Murray has been reprinted from Crosstalk, the newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
A dedicated Church: Archbishop praises Parish for its commitment to faith and diversity
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, blesses the congregation at the conclusion of the Feast of Dedication marking the Parish's 125th year on October 19.
John Wesley’s Directives for Congregational Singing
John Wesley (1703–1791), one of the founders of the Methodist movement in the Church of England, issued these directives concerning congregational singing in 1761:
Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.
Evensong
Even the word ‘Evensong’ is evocative. In the words of the Prayer at Eventide, in the Book of Common Prayer, ‘[T]he shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed...’ At St. Barnabas, we uphold the beautiful tradition of Anglican Evensong, with the devotional Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, on the third Sunday of most months. Many who attend the prayerful, music-filled service are faithful parishioners, familiar with — and thankful for — the constancy and solemnity of the Evensong service according to the Book of Common Prayer.
Missa Orbis Factor in Lent
by Wesley R. Warren, Organist and Choirmaster
Written anonymously sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries, this mass setting has traditionally been appointed for Sundays in Ordinary Time throughout the year. It was particularly popular in Roman Catholic parishes before the Second Vatican Council, rivalling Missa de angelis. At St. Barnabas, we sing it as a congregational setting during Lent.
Mass Settings at St. Barnabas
by Wesley R. Warren, Organist and Choirmaster
Throughout the liturgical year at St. Barnabas, we alternate three congregational settings of the music for the ordinary of the mass — Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy), Gloria in excelsis (Glory be to God on high), Credo (I believe in one God), Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy), Benedictus (Blessed is He that cometh) and Agnus Dei (O Lamb of God).
The Choir's CD: samples and ordering information
Featuring the parish choir and organist Wesley R. Warren, Exsultate Deo contains music that takes the listener through the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Passiontide, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and ‘ordinary time’, as well as feast-days such as All Saints’, and services at different times of the day such as morning Mass and Evensong.