Church of St. John the Evangelist

Ranmoor, Sheffield

Re-Dedication of the Bells and

Dedication of Two New Bells

by Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of Sheffield

The Order of Service,
(The complete Order of Service booklet is in this Word file)

Page 1: The Old and New Inscriptions and Weights of the Bells.

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Hymn 308 , A. & M.
O PRAISE ye the Lord !
Praise Him in the height ;
Rejoice in His Word,
Ye Angels of light ;
Ye Heavens, adore Him
By whom ye were made,
And worship before Him,
In brightness array'd.

O praise ye the Lord
Praise Him upon earth,
In tuneful accord,
Ye sons of new birth ;
Praise Him Who hash brought you
His grace from above,
Praise Him who hath taught you
To sing of His love.

O praise ye the Lord,
All things that give sound ;
Each jubilant chord,
Re-echo around ;
Loud organs, His glory
Forth tell in deep tone,
And sweet harp, the story
Of what He hath done.

O praise ye the Lord !
Thanksgiving and song,
To Him be outpour'd
All ages along
For love in creation,
For heaven restored,
For grace of salvation
O praise ye the Lord ! Amen.

Evensong shall follow.

Then shall be sung Psalms cl.

O Praise God in his holiness: praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him in His noble acts : praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him in the sound of the trumpet: praise Him upon the lute and harp.
Praise Him in the cymbals and dances : praise Him upon the strings and pipe.
Praise Him upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise Him upon the loud cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath : praise the Lord.

1st Lesson, I Chron. xxix, 9-14. Read by The Rev. Canon Bracewell, (Rural Dean).

Here shall follow The Magnificat.

2nd Lesson. Ephesians, iv, 1-16. Read by The Very Rev. The Provost of Sheffield.

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During the singing of Nunc Dimittis, the Bishop, accompanied by the Vicar, the Churchwardens, Lieut. Colonel R. O. Wever, M.C., and other members of the Bells Committee, will proceed to the Tower.

The Bishop shall then say
Prevent us, 0 Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious favour and further us with Thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee we may glorify Thy Holy Name and finally by Thy mercy obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mr. Cyril Johnston, representing the Bell Founders, will thereupon hand the bell-ropes to Lieut. Colonel Wever, who will hand there to the Wardens, saying:
I pray you receive these bells which have been restored, together with two new bells, that they may call God's people to this, His House of Prayer.

The Churchwardens will hand the ropes of the eight original bells to the Bishop saying
Reverend Father in God we request you to re-dedicate these eight bells to the glory of God and to the use of His Church.

The Bishop, receiving the ropes, shall say
IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, WE DO SOLEMNLY SET APART AND RE-DEDICATE THESE BELLS TO THE GLORY OF GOD, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST. Amen.

The Churchwardens will then hand the ropes of the two new bells to the Bishop, saying
Reverend Father in God we request you to Dedicate these new bells to the Glory of God, and in memory of SAM THOMAS.

The Bishop, receiving the ropes, shall then say
We do solemnly set apart and Dedicate these bells to the Glory of God, and in loving memory of the late SAM THOMAS, for many years a ringer in this Tower. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

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A short peal will then be rung on the bells during which the Bishop, the Vicar and Churchwardens, Lieut. Colonel Wever and others will return to the Church.

The peal ended the Bishop shall say
LET US PRAY.
Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptised into the death of Thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with Him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for His merits Who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall be called by the sound of these bells to Thine House of prayer, may enter into Thy gates with thanksgiving and into Thy courts with praise : and finally may sing the Song of the Lamb in Thine House not made with hands, eternal in the heavens through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall by reason of sickness or other necessity be hindered from coming into the House of the Lord, may by these bells be reminded of the prayers of Thy Church and rejoice in the Communion of Saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that all they for whose passing away from this world these bells shall sound may be received into the Paradise of Thine elect, there to find mercy, light, and everlasting rest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that all they who shall ring these bells, may be filled with reverence and godly fear, and may be counted worthy to stand with those who praise Thee in the heavenly Jerusalem through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us ;
And keep us in His grace.
And guide us when perplex'd,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns
With Them in highest Heaven,
The One Eternal God,
Whom earth amid Heav’n adore,
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore. Amen.

ADDRESS BY THE RIGHT REV. THE LORD BISHOP.

Special Hymn (Tune 436 A. & MI.)
During which a Collection shall be taken for the Bells Fund.

Lifted high within the steeple,
All our bells are set on high,
To fulfil their holy mission
Midway 'twixt the earth and sky,
Far and near our hearts shall hear them
In our toil and in our rest,
Telling how in one communion
Of one Church we all are blest.

When the birds sing early mattins,
And the God of nature praise,
These their nobler morning music
To the God of Grace shall raise.
And when evening shadows soften
Chancel, Cross, and tower, and aisle
They shall blend their vesper summons
With the days departing smile.

When God's day of rest and gladness
Calls us to our Father's home,
To his House and to His Altar
They shall bid His children come ;
They shall welcome little children,
Born of water and the Word.
And their wedding chimes shall tell of
Holier union with the Lord.

They shall comfort sick and dying
In their hour of utmost need,
Whispering how for weak and weary,
Holy Church doth ever plead ;
Year by year the bells' sweet music
O'er each house of death shall pour
Till the saints above are garnered,
And the Master comes once more.

Thus in joy and thus in sadness,
Shall our bells 'twixt earth and sky
Lift our hearts from earth to heaven,
Plead for man with God on high.
Consecrate them, Lord Jehovah,
Holy may they be to Thee,
Whom we laud in adoration,
Ever Blessed Trinity.

THE BLESSING.

Page 6:  Sam Thomas obituary

End of Order of Service