Image from the Diocese of Blackburn website.
Today’s Trinity hymn from Sing Praise is by the same author as yesterday’s: Timothy Dudley-Smith. This time, he turns on its head the usual pattern of such hymns (Father, Son, Spirit and a final verse about the three-in-one) by starting with the unity – “Affirm anew the three-fold name of Father, Spirit, Son” – and then breaking down the Trinity, as it were, into his constituent parts in subsequent verses: the all-embracing Lord, Christ the Life, Truth, Way and Rock, and the ancient fire of the Spirit.
Notably, each verse starts with an imperative verb: Affirm, Declare, Confirm, Renew. The first two verses are addressed to each other (if sung as a congregational hymn) as we urge each other to affirm and declare our faith. The latter two would seem to be addressed to God himself, asking him to confirm our faith, and renew us by his Spirit. In fact I wonder whether the hymn was written with a confirmation service in mind, rather than Trinity Sunday?
Coincidentally, and as writing the previous sentence reminded me, it was forty years last Sunday that I myself was confirmed by the late Bishop Stephen Neill. Perhaps it is time, forty years on, for me to affirm, declare and ask God to renew my own faith.
The suggested tune, which John used, is an old 18th century one, but there is a suggestion that Kingsfold (I heard the voice of Jesus say) could be used instead. If anything I might prefer to sing this to something more rousing, especially as the last verse asks the Spirit to inflame our hearts, renew, restore, unite and inspire us.
I had not stopped to wonder if this was a confirmation hymn rather than a Trinity Sunday hymn, but Stephen’s suggestion makes a lot of sense. I appreciated these words and enjoyed singing the hymn. I agree with what Stephen says about the need for a rousing tune, and that’s part of the reason I chose the set “St Matthew” DCM tune – the other part of the reason is that I instinctively felt this hymn mustn’t be allowed to go too slowly lest it drag, and “Kingsfold” is a tune which invites leisurely reflection. (I did, however, rearrange the parts at the beginning of the tune so that the bass would have the upward octave leap which gets these words off to a great start.)