Lincoln Cathedral

Sung Eucharist with the College of Canons

The Feast of St Hugh of Lincolnin the 800th year of his canonization

at 12 noon 17th November, 2020

Hugh of LincolnSt Hugh is Lincoln’s special saint and, although his magnificent golden shrine was destroyed on King Henry VIII’s orders, pilgrims still travel to the cathedral to venerate him. He was a remarkable man. Born in Avalon in France in 1135 into an aristocratic family, he entered the Augustinian Priory of Villard-Benoit when he was a child. His extraordinary intellect and piety was quickly recognised but Hugh wanted to live a more austere and enclosed life and therefore became a Carthusian monk at the Grande Chartreuse near Grenoble. The severity of the regime under which Hugh lived is underlined by the fact that even his innocent pastime of feeding the birds and animals was condemned by the prior because it brought him pleasure which could be construed as self-indulgent! Later, when he became Bishop of Lincoln he rejoiced in the company of his pet swan. During his years at the Grande Chartreuse, Hugh’s extraordinary administrative skills were recognised, and came to the notice of King Henry II. The king asked that Hugh should become prior of his struggling new monastery in Witham in Somerset. Reluctantly Hugh agreed and he proved to be both a practical and inspirational leader, renowned for his humility and compassion. In 1186 Hugh once again acceded to royal demands and was ordained Bishop of Lincoln. As he travelled to his new bishopric, accompanied by one lay brother and clutching a disreputable bundle of animal skins that he intended to use as bedding, Hugh was the antithesis of a grand worldly prelate. Now over fifty years old, and a Frenchman by birth (he probably spoke little English) with poor eyesight and plagued with digestive problems, he was expected to care for a huge diocese. Another challenge was the fact that a year earlier an earthquake had virtually destroyed the wonderful cathedral and left it in ruins. As Bishop of Lincoln, Hugh achieved miracles. Throughout his vast diocese he gained the love of

ordinary people due to his care for the poor, for children and people suffering from leprosy and mental illness. He offered the Jewish community protection and ensured that atrocities happening elsewhere did not take place in his diocese. Hugh was able to attract talented administrators and scholars to Lincoln to ensure the smooth running of his unwieldy diocese. He bravely challenged King Henry II in protecting the privileges and powers of the church and improved the standards and lifestyle of the clergy. His most obvious legacy, however, is his work in rebuilding the cathedral. His holiness and charismatic personality ensured that people donated vast sums of money for this task. Hugh led from the front and reputedly worked as a labourer whenever it was possible. The result was the erection of a magnificent and awe-inspiring building. When he died in 1200 he was greatly mourned and his funeral was attended by two kings and many senior clerics. Soon after he was buried, reports of miracles began and, only twenty years later, he was proclaimed a saint.

Judi Jones Historian and Cathedral Guide

Welcome to Lincoln Cathedral

Before the ServiceThe dean will offer a welcome and any brief notices we then say the following:

Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you,and worthily magnify your holy name;through Christ our Lord.Amen.

We keep silence until the organ sounds and the procession enters.

The GatheringGREETING

President In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.President Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christbe with you.

All and also with you.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCEThe president invites the people to confess their sins.

My brothers and sisters as we prepare to celebrate the presence of Christ in word and sacrament let us first call to mind and confess our sins:

All call to mind their sins in silence.

All Most merciful God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,we confess that we have sinnedin thought, word and deed.We have not loved you with our whole heart.We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.In your mercy forgive what we have been,help us to amend what we are,and direct what we shall be;that we may do justly, love mercy,and walk humbly with you, our God.Amen.

President Almighty God,who forgives all who truly repent,have mercy upon you,pardon and deliver you from all your sins,confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,and keep you in life eternal;through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

GLORIAMissa de Angelis sung by the cantor

Gloria in excelsis Deo Glory to God in the highest,et in terra pax hominibus bonae and peace to his people on earth.

voluntatis.Laudamus te, benedicimus te, We praise you, we bless you,adoramus te, glorificamus te we worship you, we glorify you,gratias agimus tibi propter magnam we give thanks to yougloriam tuam. for your great glory.Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, O Lord God, heavenly King,

Deus Pater omnipotens. God the Father almighty.Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, Lord God, Lamb of God,qui tollis peccata mundi, you take away the sin of the world:miserere nobis; have mercy on us;qui tollis peccata mundi, you take away the sin of the world,suscipe deprecationem nostram; receive our prayer.qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, You are seated at the right handmiserere nobis. of the Father; have mercy on us.Quoniam tu solus sanctus, For you alone are the Holy One;tu solus Dominus, you alone are the Lord; tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,cum Sancto Spiritu with the Holy Spirit,in gloria Dei Patris. in the glory of God the Father.Amen. Amen.

COLLECTPresident Let us pray.A brief silence is kept.

O God,who endowed your servant Hugh with a wise and cheerful boldness,and taught him to commend to earthly rulersthe discipline of a holy life:give us grace like him to be boldin the service of the gospel,putting our confidence in Christ alone,who is alive and reigns with youin the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.

All Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

SitFIRST READING Micah 6: 6-8At the end the reader says

This is the word of the LordAll Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL Psalm 40: 6-8, 11 & 16sung by the cantor

6. O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward: and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee:

7. If I should declare them, and speak of them: they should be more than I am able to express.

8. Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not: but mine ears hast thou opened.

11. I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.

16. O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me: make haste, O Lord, to help me.

SitSECOND READING 1 Timothy 6: 11-16At the end the reader says

This is the word of the LordAll Thanks be to God.

StandGOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Choir Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.Choir The righteous shall blossom as the holy:

and shall flourish before the Lord for ever.Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL READING Luke 9: 51-56Gospeller The Lord be with youAll and also with you.

Gospeller Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christaccording to Luke.

All Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end the gospeller says

This is the Gospel of the Lord.All Praise to you, O Christ.

SitSERMONThe Reverend Canon Paul Noble

After the sermon silence is kept for a few moments. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONDuring these, one of the following responses may be used.

Lord, in your mercy Lord, hear usHear our prayer. Lord, graciously hear us.

At the end, the intercessor says a prayer, or:Merciful Father,

All accept these prayersfor the sake of your Sonour Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Liturgy of the SacramentStandTHE PEACEThe president introduces the Peace.

President May the God of peace sanctify you:may he so strengthen your hearts in holinessthat you may be blameless before himat the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints.The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.PRAYER AT THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE

President Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,

which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

All Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.

All Blessed be God forever.

President Let us pray.God of peace,by whose grace your blessed servant Hughwas a wise and faithful steward over your householdand people in Lincoln,grant us to share in your goodnessthat our worship may be leavened with your justice.We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

President The Lord be with you All and also with you.

President Lift up your hearts.All We lift them to the Lord.

President Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.All It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy,that we should always sing of your glory,almighty and eternal God,through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.And now we give you thanksfor the work of your grace in the ministry of Hugh of Lincoln, whereby he was enabled to show great lovefor the poor and oppressed,and to speak out with wisdom and couragebefore rulers and councils.By his example you inspire us to fight against oppression, to speak the truth in love,and in all things to maintain your righteous will.Therefore, with all who can give voice in your creation,we glorify your name, forever praising you and singing:

Sanctus & Benedictus Missa de Angelis sung by the cantor

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Holy, holy, holy,Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of hosts.Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. heaven and earth are

full of your glory.Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.Benedictus qui venit Blessed is he that

comesin nomine Domini. in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the

highest.

President We praise and bless you, loving Father,through Jesus Christ, our Lord;and as we obey his command,send your Holy Spirit,that broken bread and wine outpouredmay be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.On the night before he diedhe had supper with his friendsand, taking bread, he praised you.He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;do this in remembrance of me.When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:Drink this, all of you;this is my blood of the new covenant,which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,in him we plead with confidence his sacrificemade once for all upon the cross.Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,we proclaim his death and resurrectionuntil he comes in glory.Great is the mystery of faith:

All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

President Lord of all life,help us to work together for that daywhen your kingdom comesand justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.Look with favour on your people,gather us in your loving armsand bring us with Mary the Virgin,Hugh of Lincoln and all the saintsto feast at your table in heaven.Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,for ever and ever.

All Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

President Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught usAll Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and for ever.Amen.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

President We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All Though we are many, we are one body,because we all share in one bread.

THE GIVING OF COMMUNIONThe president invites the people to receive communion.

President God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.All Jesus Christ is holy,

Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

President During the Agnus Dei I invite you to make your spiritual communion, praying that that by God’s grace, united with all the baptised and with Christ who gave his life for us, you may be filled with his indwelling presence.

The cantor sings the AGNUS DEIAgnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi Lamb of God, who takes

away the sins

miserere nobis. of the world: have mercy on us.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi Lamb of God, who takes away the sins

miserere nobis. of the world: have mercy on us.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi Lamb of God, who takes away the sins

dona nobis pacem. of the world: grant us your peace.

StandPRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION

President Let us pray.God, shepherd of your people,whose servant Hugh revealed the loving service of Christin his ministry as pastor of your people:by this eucharist in which we shareawaken within us the love of Christand keep us faithful to our Christian calling;through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

All You have opened to us the scriptures, O Christ,

and you have made yourself knownin the breaking of the bread.Abide with us, we pray,that, blessed by your royal presence,we may walk with you all the days of our

life,and at its end behold youin the glory of the eternal Trinityone God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Dismissal

All hail the power of Jesus' name;let angels prostrate fall;bring forth the royal diadem tocrown him, crown him, crown him,crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,who from his altar call;praise him whose way of pain ye trod and

crown him, crown him, crown him,crown him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel's chosen race,ye ransomed from the fall,hail him who saves you by his grace, andcrown him, crown him, crown him,crown him Lord of all.

hail him ye heirs of david’s linewhom David Lord did call,the God incarnate man divine, andcrown him, crown him, crown him,crown him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue,to him their hearts enthrall,lift high the universal song, andcrown him, crown him, crown him,crown him Lord of all.

Edward Perronet 1726-92

BLESSING

President The Lord be with youAll and also with you President God give you grace

to share the inheritance of the saints in glory;and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,be upon you and remain with you always.

All Amen.

Gospeller Go in the peace of Christ.All Thanks be to God.

CONCLUDING VOLUNTARY

Bach Fantasia in G minor BWV 542 Johann Sebastian Bach

AcknowledgementsExtracts from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England,

and Common Worship: Times and Seasons material from which is included in this serviceare copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and 2006 respectively.

Reproduction of the hymns falls within the provisions of either CCL 901658or are

© 2003, ABC Music Co., reprinted with permission. All rights reserved ONE LICENSE #A-631455.

Launching this week! Our new Journeys of Faith pilgrimage (celebrating St Hugh) 800 years ago St Hugh was canonised and the cathedral is publishing a guidebook detailing a one day pilgrimage to celebrate our saint. 

Starting from Navenby, the pilgrimage follows the beautiful route along the Lincolnshire Edge, winding up our historic High Street and ending in St Hugh’s choir. 

It visits the ancient churches along the way and recounts the history of these sacred buildings. At every stage it suggests issues to ponder and to discuss with fellow pilgrims. It is attractively produced with interesting photographs and clear maps.

We hope that it will encourage many people to walk at least part of the way and take time out to enjoy nature, find space to contemplate and to celebrate our special saint.