Reflection in words & music - Sunday 7th June 2026

Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music. This week's reflection opens with the third in a set of four anthems which the English composer Herbert Howells wrote in 1941 – "Like as the hart" – which sets the opening verses of Psalm 42. It is a deeply moving expression of spiritual longing and hope and one of his best-loved works. Our reading from St Luke's Gospel is one of Alison favourites from the New Testament and recounts the raising of Jairus' daughter, a story which was originally found in St Mark's Gospel. Alison reflects that perhaps the most important character is not the young girl central to the narrative but an outcast woman in the crowd that Jesus names 'daughter'. We close with the hymn "The King of love, my shepherd is" which is a metrical setting of Psalm 23 by The Revd Henry Baker published in 1868, sung to the then new tune, Dominus regit me, by John Bacchus Dykes. Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…horal-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30pm (www.stbrides.com/worship-music/wo…choral-evensong/) can be found on the website. Find out what's happening at St Bride's at www.stbrides.com/whats-on If you enjoy listening, please leave a comment below or subscribe to our channel. It is great to get your feedback. SUPPORT ST BRIDE'S ================== We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet