Roger Griffin’s memorial service

Order of Service (PDF)

01_Pre-Service-Organ-Music_3922959.mp3
J.S. Bach: Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit (BWV 669)
J.S. Bach: Christ, aller Welt Trost (BWV 670)
J.S. Bach: Prelude & Fugue in C (BWV 545)
J.S. Bach: Fantasia super Komm, Heiliger Geist (BWV 651)
J.S. Bach: Das alte Jahr vergangen ist (BWV 614)

02_Introit-Requiem-aeternam_3922805.mp3
Plainsong: Requiem aeternam

03_Opening-sentences_3922816.mp3
Led by The Dean of St John’s College, The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley

04_Anthem-O-Taste-and-See_3922827.mp3
Vaughan Williams: O Taste and See

05_Psalm-8_3922838.mp3
Psalm 8 (Chant: George Woodward)

Comment: We sons were each in this choir as choristers, and we had recollections of a fantasic re-harmonisation of the final verse of this Psalm, ‘O Lord our Governor’. It turns out to have been written by Malcolm Boyle, George Guest’s choirmaster at Chester in the 1930s and a great influence upon him. Thanks to the indulgence of the then current Director of Music Andrew Nethsingha, the selfsame reharmonisation was used in this service and is thus captured here for posterity. It really is most uncommonly rousing! It’s also the only time I can ever remember witnessing the use of the 32-foot pedal reed during the Psalms!

06_Lesson-1-Isaiah-40-vv28-31_3922871.mp3
Read by The Master of St John’s College, Mrs Heather Hancock

07_Reading-Extract-from-travel-log_3922849.mp3
Read by Richard Griffin
See also Roger Griffin’s letter/travel-log from Hawaii, 1973 from which this extract was taken.

08_Hymn-Jerusalem-the-Golden_3922860.mp3
Jerusalem the Golden

09_Reflection_3922882.mp3
Given by Rupert Griffin
See also Roger Griffin: A Reflection.

10_Te-Deum-Laudamus_3922893.mp3
Howells (Collegium Regale Service)

11_Lesson-2-Job-28-vv12-15_18_20-21a_23-28_3922904.mp3
read by Elizabeth Griffin

12_Prayers_3922915.mp3
Led by The Dean of St John’s College, The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley

Comment: Among these prayers, we chose two Collects from the Office of Compline. Roger knew ‘Look down O Lord…’ and ‘Be present O merciful God’ by heart, and when putting us to bed when we were young he would recite these, kneeling at our bedside in our darkened bedroom. As these Collects also bear reference to darkness and light, and the nighttime — Roger’s life’s work encapsulated — it seemed wholly appropriate to include them in his service.

13_Hymn-Praise-my-Soul-the-King-of-Heaven_Descant-Christopher-Robinson_3922926.mp3
Praise my Soul the King of Heaven
Descant: Christopher Robinson

14_College-Prayer-and-Blessing_3922937.mp3
Led by The Dean of St John’s College, The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley

15_Organ-Voluntary_J.S.Bach-Kyrie-Gott-heiliger-Geist-BWV671_3922948.mp3
J.S. Bach: Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist (BWV 671)