蜜芽传媒

RECTOR:

Good morning and welcome to St George鈥檚 Hanover Square. I鈥檓 Roderick Leece, Rector of St George鈥檚, and I鈥檓 joined by Anne Barnes to lead our service this morning.

This year our church here in the West End of London has been marking the 300th anniversary of its consecration, and today we continue to celebrate that, and recall the inspiration, courage, and loyalty 鈥� even in the face of death 鈥� of our patron St George.

Today is also Trinity Sunday, when the Christian church reflects on the mystery and wonder of God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and so the choir now leads us in our first hymn which calls on all of the saints to adore God in three persons, the Holy Trinity, 鈥楬oly, holy, holy, Lord God almighty鈥�.

MUSIC: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! (Nicaea)

RECTOR/ALL:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

RECTOR:

Let us pray:

Almighty聽and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee, that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end.聽Amen.

ANNE:

Throughout its 300-year history St George鈥檚 has hosted many notable marriages 鈥� but perhaps a fictional one is best known, as this church is where in My Fair Lady Alfred Doolittle is headed when he sings the song Get me to the Church on time.

We have close pastoral links with The Rifles Regiment, The Royal Society of St George and the London Handel Festival (which was founded here) 鈥� the composer George Frideric Handel himself lived just yards away from the church and was a regular worshipper here in the eighteenth century. Part of a network of churches in Westminster, we enjoy close ecumenical relations, and the London Prisons Mission grew out of an initiative which began here.

Little is known about our patron, St George. He is thought to have been a Roman military officer in the third century, and was martyred on 23rd April in the year 303 for refusing to give up his Christian faith. He turned down offers of promotion and honours...he resisted bribery and torture intended to make him give up his Christian religion, and remained constant, loyal and fearless in declaring his faith until the end.

He is perhaps best known for the legend of the slaying of the dragon, and for being the Patron Saint of England.

As part of our Tercentenary celebrations this year, a new piece was composed by Richard Barnard to mark the feast of St George back in April, with words replete with musical references, and of encouragement for all who honour St George to hold with the saints in the communion of heaven. The choir sings 鈥楴ow let us sing with instruments well tuned鈥�paying our due thanksgivings to the Lord, much to be had in reverence of his saints鈥�.

MUSIC: Now let us sing (Richard Barnard)

ANNE:

Both of our readings this morning remind us how the early Christians 鈥� like St George 鈥� suffered and were persecuted for their faith.

St Paul in his second letter to Timothy exhorts him to endure, reminding readers that perseverance is neither merely his own pet project, nor is it optional. It is a trademark of Christian life and service. We hear also how the elect are no longer just Jesus鈥� and Paul鈥檚 compatriots, fellow Jews. Now God鈥檚 chosen people include Gentile foreigners, so that salvation isn鈥檛 restricted by the accidents of birth or blood, but expands to embrace all humanity.

READING: 2 Timothy 2 vv8-13

ANNE:

Composed for the Coronation of James II in 1685, which happens to be the year of Handel鈥檚 birth, Purcell鈥檚 鈥業 was glad鈥� is a setting of Psalm 122 with a vision of Jerusalem as a city of unity, harmony and peace. It encourages us all to enter into each of God鈥檚 houses, such as this church dedicated to St George, with joy.

MUSIC: I was glad (Purcell)

ANNE:

In our second reading from St John鈥檚 Gospel, after Jesus assures his disciples they are his friends, they are warned that with their loyalty and friendship will come persecution. 鈥榃hen the world hates you 鈥� it hated me first.鈥� It would be wrong for the Church to suppose that the world鈥檚 opposition was to itself 鈥� it is really opposition to Jesus Christ, and on account of him that the disciples will meet hatred, opposition and persecution.

READING: 聽John 15 vv15, 18-21

ANNE:

In the year 325 鈥� just 22 years after the martyrdom of St George 鈥� the First Council of Nicaea adopted a statement of core beliefs for the Christian faith. For 1700 years, the Nicene Creed 鈥� as it became known 鈥� has reminded those who pray it each week at the Eucharist of the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This is also picked up in The Te Deum, the canticle of praise and thanksgiving to God, most frequently used as part of the morning office of Mattins. Our next hymn is based on the Te Deum, acknowledging the greatness and glory of the Trinity 鈥� the three in one, undivided God. Together with all of the white-robed Christian martyrs 鈥� including St George 鈥� we sing to praise God鈥檚 holy name.

MUSIC: Holy God, we praise thy name (Grosser Gott)

RECTOR:

Even though one team was in quite a protracted golden heyday, I had to be very careful in my last parish over 20 years ago in Stamford Hill not to take sides between Arsenal and Spurs. More parishioners lived in Tottenham closer to White Hart Lane, though some came from the direction of Highbury and I lived equidistant from both old grounds. Where were my loyalties? Well...safest to say Blessings be upon both of them.

We all have our tribal loyalties I鈥檓 sure...and of course I like England to prevail in cricket, rugby or football. There are perhaps decreasing numbers of people who are loyal to a political party these days...though we know the dangers of filling a Prime Minister鈥檚 or President鈥檚 cabinet with loyalists. Yes-men and women.

And then there鈥檚 brand loyalty. I can鈥檛 be the only one who has been with the same bank for over 40 years...nor to sticking with the same brand of computer and mobile phone. We might moan about the self-serving information being harvested about us through our supermarket so-called loyalty cards...but it鈥檚 not as if we customers are exclusive in our own shopping...two-three-four or even five-timing the big stores as we do to get the best deal.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces are rightly respected and renowned for their loyalty to the Sovereign, the nation, and to each other. Church of England clergy are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign, and at all citizenship ceremonies in addition to either an oath or an affirmation of allegiance to King Charles III a pledge is also made: I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

And in a sense, every time we profess our faith, we demonstrate our adherence, our allegiance, our loyalty, to the deposit of faith contained within the Creeds, as we proclaim 鈥榃e believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father.鈥�

On the international front loyalties that seemed beyond doubt are now called into question...and after trust has been betrayed it is very hard to restore. Indeed, William Blake reminds us It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

The Feast day of St George the Martyr, Patron of England 鈥� which we celebrated in April 鈥� was also William Shakespeare鈥檚 birthday. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare famously writes: This above all: to thine own self be true. Speaking of the need to be loyal to oneself.

And what about more subtle forms of loyalty? Are we inclined to be more loyal to the past or eager for the future? One of the simplest but most interesting questions my father ever asked me was whether I鈥檇 like to be the last of the old, or the first of the new? Last of the old or first of the new. Of course I鈥檇 like to be both. Dag Hammarskjold who in the 1950s and early 60s served as Secretary General of the United Nations wrote this memorable line: For all that has been THANKS...for all that shall be 鈥� YES.

The origins of the word loyalty come from the French word loi...meaning law. A knight was loyal to his lord if he was obedient to the law of his feudal master.

A knight entered into this relationship by swearing an oath of allegiance and then living faithfully to that oath. Being loyal was a simple matter of obedience to an individual. And this raises the problem of blind loyalty. For example, were the knights who murdered St Thomas Becket, for example, acting loyally to the wishes of Henry II? The knights might well have acted loyally, but they acted immorally.

And so with competing or divided loyalties to whom or what should people offer supreme loyalty?

In today鈥檚 world there is a tendency to insist that people should be supremely loyal to their sovereign state. This is Nationalism...for better, as it can be, or for worse, as on occasion it has been.

An important aspect of the problem of clerical abuse has been a misplaced loyalty to the Church. Misplaced loyalty putting institutions鈥� interests above those of the vulnerable victims and survivors of clerical abuse. Those misplacing their loyalty in this way thereby potentially making themselves guilty of complicity in the abuse.

All of which means that when loyalty is asked of us, we must take responsibility for judging the degree of loyalty which is morally appropriate in the circumstances. Whether to family, friend, or church. Absolute loyalty can only be given to our God 鈥� Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Rowan Williams in his book The Two Ways reminds us that early Christians simply couldn鈥檛 grant the state their unqualified allegiance. They had another loyalty. Clearly they could not worship the Roman emperor, and mostly refused to serve in the Roman army.

Because if Jesus is Lord, this means no one else ultimately is...certainly not any earthly ruler. If Jesus is Lord there鈥檚 a new and eternal Sheriff in town to borrow words from the Deputy to the new Sheriff in Washington.

Which means those who belong with Jesus have a solidarity and a loyalty that goes beyond the chance identity of national or political life. The first claim on their loyalty is to live out the life of Jesus...treating each other with forgiveness and respect...with love...and addressing poverty and suffering.

Christian identity is always a claim to a 鈥渃itizenship鈥� that is deeper and more universal than any human society can provide.

That鈥檚 why for Christians supreme loyalty can only be offered to God. Loyalty to Jesus who calls his disciples friends. Loyalty to Jesus who humbled himself and was obedient...loyal...even unto death on a cross. Loyalty to Jesus who assures us: Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Loyalty to God...to God who so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

MUSIC: Dettingen Anthem (The King shall rejoice) (Handel)

ANNE:

鈥楾he King shall rejoice鈥� 鈥� the first movement of the Dettingen Anthem by George Frideric Handel, who worshipped here at St George鈥檚 Hanover Square in the eighteenth century.

In the wonder and mystery of the Holy Trinity, let us pray.

PRAYERS:

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank thee for the courage and loyalty of St George and ask that we too may be thy brave and faithful followers, and loyal servants, to the end of our lives. Strengthen us in times of weakness and help us to honour thee in everything we think and say and do, and serve thee with a selfless love. And of thy great mercy, bring us safely to our home in Heaven, where with St George and all the saints we may see thee face to face and adore thee for ever. Amen.

Renew in us, we humbly pray thee, the gifts of thy Holy Spirit; increase our faith, strengthen our hope, enlighten our understanding, enlarge our charity, and make us ever ready to serve thee in body and soul. Finally, O Lord, we pray that in thy wounds we may find our safety, in thy stripes our cure, in thy pain our peace, in thy cross our victory, in thy resurrection our triumph; and at the last, a crown of righteousness in the glories of thy eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

We gather these, and the prayers of our own hearts, in the words of the Lord鈥檚 Prayer:

Our Father,

ALL:

who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;

thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

ANNE:

As, with God ever Three and ever One, we celebrate today 300 years of worship in this holy place, our final hymn reminds us that Christ is the sure foundation and corner-stone on which his holy, universal church is built.

MUSIC: Christ is made the sure foundation (Westminster Abbey)

RECTOR:

The Lord be with you

ALL: And with thy spirit.

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

ORGAN VOLUNTARY: Paraphrase on a chorus in Handel鈥檚 Judas Maccabaeus (Guilmant)

Sunday Worship came from St George鈥檚 Hanover Square in London. The service was led by the Rector The Reverend Dr Roderick Leece, and by Anne Barnes, the Director of Music was Richard Gowers, the organist Nicholas Morris, and the producer was Ben Collingwood. Next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship explores the life and ministry of Lambeth Palace in London.

We are currently listening to feedback from all audiences about the future of the 蜜芽传媒 as a whole. This is in the context of the new Royal Charter which will come into force from 2027 onwards, and which will define our scale, scope and the services we offer. The 蜜芽传媒 belongs to you, so we are keen to hear what you think it does well, what it could do better; and crucially what it should be and do in the future.

You can let us know via 鈥淥ur 蜜芽传媒, Our Future鈥� at this address: /mediacentre/2025/our-bbc-our-future-audience-questionnaire