Merton College Chapel, seen from the eastern end of Front Quad

Virtual Chapel

During these uncertain times when Merton College Chapel is closed, we remain open to one another as a worshipping community. The Chapel Team has assembled a virtual service for each Sunday of Trinity Term to assist us in our spiritual life together. Much of the music will be taken from our archive of webcasts recorded over the last twelve months, and occasionally we will include a piece recorded by members of the choir from their homes (indicated in the order of service with an asterisk*). The reading will be recorded each week by a member of our regular congregation, and the Chaplain or Associate Chaplain will record a short reflection. We hope that you will join us as we seek to keep our community spiritually connected during this time of physical isolation. More resources can be found on the main Socially Isolated | Spiritually Connected page, and you can stay up to date with all we are doing via our social media hub.

Each term we give our Chapel collections to a different charity. This term, to support the wonderful work of the NHS, our charity is NHS Charities Together. You can give online at www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk.

1st Week - Sunday 26 April at 5:45pm - Easter 3

Introit: Love is come again – Trad.*
Preces: Smith
Psalm 116 v.10-end
Magnificat (Collegium Regale) Howells
Deep river arr. Hancock - taken from the choir’s new CD, Sleeper’s Prayer, to be released on 22 May.
Hymn: Jesus Christ is risen today
Voluntary: Carillon-Sortie Mulet

2nd Week - Sunday 3 May at 5:45pm - Easter 4

Introit: Love bade me welcome Vaughan Williams*
Preces: Byrd
Psalm 23
Magnificat (Short Service) Byrd
Hallelujah (Athalia) Handel
Hymn: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem
Voluntary: Paean Howells

3rd Week - Sunday 10 May at 5:45pm - Easter 5

Introit: A grateful heart Plumstead (Girl Choristers)
Preces: Rose
Psalm 147
Magnificat in G Sumsion
Dum transisset Taverner
Hymn: Now is eternal life
Voluntary: Sonata V BWV 529 (1st movement) JS Bach

4th Week - Sunday 17 May at 5:45pm - Easter 6

Introit: Teach me, O Lord Byrd
Preces: Byrd
Psalm 87, 36
Nunc Dimittis in G Stanford
I was glad Purcell
Hymn: Jerusalem the Golden
Voluntary: Trio Sonata No. 5 in C (1st movement) JS Bach

5th Week - Sunday 24 May at 5:45pm - Easter 7

Introit: Lift thine eyes Mendelssohn*
Preces: Rose
Psalm 47
Magnificat in A Stanford
God is gone up Finzi
Hymn: Christ triumphant
Voluntary: Transports de joie (L’Ascension) Messiaen

6th Week - Sunday 31 May at 5:45pm - Pentecost

Introit: Litany to the Holy Spirit Hurford (Girl Choristers)
Preces: Smith
Psalm 133
Magnificat in D Dyson
The Spirit of the Lord Elgar
Hymn: O thou who camest from above
Voluntary: Sortie (Messe de la Pentecôte) Messiaen

7th Week - Sunday 7 June at 5:45pm - Trinity Sunday

Organ Prelude: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend BWV 632 JS Bach
Responses: Smith
Psalm 84
Nunc Dimittis (Gloucester Service) Howells
Te Deum (Collegium Regale) Howells
Hymn: All my hope on God is founded
Voluntary: Fugue in E flat BWV 522 JS Bach

8th Week - Sunday 14 June at 5:45pm Leavers’ Service - Trinity 1

Introit: Ich ruf zu dir BWV 639 JS Bach
Responses: Smith
Preces: Rose
Psalms 42, 43
Magnificat (Gloucester Service) Howells
The Lord bless you and keep you Rutter
Hymn: Love divine
Voluntary: Fugue on ‘Ad nos, ad salutarem’ Liszt