ALLELUIA IS OUR SONG (2025)
Back in 2012 the PGT generously granted £1,000 to assist the production of my first major collection of hymns, “Sing, God’s Easter People”. More recently the Trust kindly followed this up with a £500 grant for a second volume, “Alleluia is our Song”. This comprised 170 texts with footnotes and Index. It was seen through publication by Into the World Press, Lincoln-based firm, with typing done by my daughter Elizabeth.
The book has eighteen sections, as follows:
Thanksgiving. Old Testament. New Testament. Jesus, Life and ministry.
Holy week – Easter – Ascension. Trinity. New Testament saints.
Later saints and personalities. Children’s songs.
Church – universal and local. Inter-faith. Liturgy and sacraments.
Prayer. Social issues. Death and Providence. Healing.
Environment and climate. The Arts.
Whereas most of these texts are suitable for congregational singing, others (eg. Auschwitz) lend themselves better to private reflection. Each piece carries with it a suggested familiar tune. A few have appeared in print elsewhere; all which are copyrighted are indicated.
Looking to the future, I have a further body of work which may form a third collection, for which a working title is “Who sings, prays twice” (a phrase attributed to St.Augustine, also the author of the titles of my two earlier books).