This morning we sang, for the offertory hymn, Saint Patrick’s Breastplate. Partly this was because it was a suggested hymn for this Sunday from the Royal School of Church Music, but also because it’s probably my all-time my favourite hymn. Sadly, these days most hymn books omit two verses, one of which is my favourite verse. Today we sang the shorter version, but we shall sing the whole hymn on Trinity Sunday in procession. Here’s a recording of the shorter version that we sang today.

The hymn is a translation from the original by Mrs C F Alexander. She also wrote All things bright and beautiful which is one of my least favourite hymns, but she can be forgiven as she also gave us this masterpiece of hymnody.