An excerpt from an edition of a BBC TV series called “Advent Hope”, recorded in Lichfield Cathedral and broadcast on 29 November 1998. With the choristers of Lichfield Cathedral, directed by Andrew Lumsden, and Robert Sharpe (organ). Our apologies the choir and its director for the insensitive editing, which was carried out before the tape was donated to the Archive, and for the poor sound quality. If anyone has a “clean” copy of this broadcast, we would be interested to hear about it.
Leonard J White was choirmaster at St Andrew’s Willesden Green, London, until his death in the 1970s. This piece is thought to have been written around 1919 and was published in 1947. It sets a version of a prayer ascribed to the 13th-century Richard, Bishop of Chichester, which he is supposed to have recited on his death-bed.
O holy Jesus,
Most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
And follow Thee more nearly,
Day by day.
Amen.