Bideford: Dedication Service (1975)

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Service of Dedication of St Francis Church, Bideford, 11 October 1975

The people being assembled, the Churchwardens, or other fit persons shall say at the main entrance:

Reverend Father in God, on behalf of the people of this District we request you to dedicate this Church to the honour and glory of God.

The Bishop of Wellington, having declared his readiness to proceed to the Dedication, shall pass, with the clergy, churchwardens and others towards the Holy Table. (Psalm 122 being meanwhile said or sung.)

PSALM 122
I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates: O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city: that is at unity in itself.
For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord: to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
For there is the seat of judgement: even the seat of the house of David.
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions' sakes: I will wish thee prosperity.
Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God: I will seek to do thee good.

HYMN

We love the place, O God   etc

The Bishop, standing at the Holy Table, and turning towards the people, shall say:

Dearly beloved, we know that from ancient times devout men have desired to build and set apart houses of prayer, for the public worship of God, in order that the people may gather, as one family, in reverence and humility to honour His Name and to see His grace. Such pious works our heavenly Father hath ever accepted and prospered with His blessing. Let us therefore, not doubt that He will approve our purpose in dedicating this building to His honour, in the faith of Jesus Christ, and let us pray that He will grant His blessing upon this our undertaking.

LET US PRAY

Be present, O Lord, with Thy people, and hallow with Thy abiding grace this place of worship which we dedicate to Thy honour and glory; and grant that all who in days ot come shall worship herein, may find mercy and grace to help them in their time of need. Amen.

Regard, O Lord, the prayers of Thy people, and grant that they who are here Baptised into the death of Thy Son may be partakers of His glorious Resurrection. Amen.

Give Thy Blessing, O Lord, to all who shall be confirmed in this place; strengthen them with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in them Thy manifold gifts of grace. Amen.

Sanctify, O Lord, and bless those who shall here be joined together in Holy Matrimony, that they may please Thee both in body and soul, and dwell together in holy love until their lives' end. Amen.

Grant that all who shall here participate in the holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, may be filled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst give to Thine Apostles grace truly to believe and to preach Thy Word; grant we beseech Thee, unto Thy Church to love that Word which they believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Then the Bishop, standing before the Holy Table, shall say:

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE DEDICATE THIS CHURCH UNDER THE NAME OF ST FRANCIS, TO THE GLORY OF THE EVER BLESSED TRINITY, FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

Then the Bishop shall say:

Most glorious God, we are not worthy to make our offerings unto Thee; yet we beseech Thee to accept the dedication of this place to Thy worship and service; receive the prayers of Thy servants, who, entering into this house, shall call upon Thee; and prepare their hearts to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear, so that, approaching Thy sanctuary with lowliness and sincerity of heart, they may be acceptable in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now unto the King enternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN

All creatures of our God and King


Then the Bishop shall speak to the people.

Then shall be sung a hymn, during the singing of which hymn a Collection shall be made.

HYMN

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!

I have seen him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgement seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant my feet!
Our God is marching on!

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;
And he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!
While God is marching on!

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave;
He is wisdom to the mighty, he is honour to the brave;
So the world shall be his footstool, and the soul of wrong his slave.
Our God is marching on!


ST FRANCIS PRAYER
Lord, make us instruments of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake.

Then shall the Bishop dismiss the people with a Blessing.