A NEW composition, “A Song for the Season of Creation”, had its première at evensong at St Bride’s, Fleet Street, in London, on Sunday.

It is hoped that the anthem, commissioned by the C of E’s Environment Working Group, will be performed during the Season of Creation, which takes place from 1 September to 4 October.

“A Song for the Season of Creation” was composed by Ian Stephens in several arrangements, including one for congregations. It sets to music the words of a poem, “Everything Holds Together”, by Malcolm Guite.

The Rector of St Bride’s, the Revd Dr Alison Joyce, said: “The choir of St Bride’s has done an amazing job in helping to raise our awareness of how we can all respond positively to the environmental challenges that we face — and their initiative has been the more effective because it has emerged from within the heart of our worshipping community. The idea of a specially commissioned song for the Season of Creation is an inspired way of encouraging other choirs to spread the word, too.”

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nick Holtam, the C of E’s lead bishop on the environment, said: “We can see the urgency to care for God’s earth, our common home. Music and worship give form to our Christian lives. This is a song for God’s creation we can all sing this Season of Creation.”

The director of the Royal School of Church Music, Hugh Morris, said: “Using music to celebrate the richness of God’s creation is something all churches can do, and this new song for the Season of Creation offers an open, flexible way of resourcing and encouraging churches to lift up their voices in praise”.

www.creationtide.com

Listen to the song and download scores here.