Daily prayers in Ordinary Time with USPG: (66) 2 August 2023

The West Window or ‘Te Deum’ window in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, was designed by Hugh Easton and dedicated in 1955 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Patrick Comerford

We are in Ordinary Time in the Church Calendar, and this week began with the Eighth Sunday after Trinity (30 July 2023).

Before this day begins, I am taking some time this morning for prayer, reading and reflection.

Having looked at the ‘Te Deum’ window in Saint Editha’s Collegiate Church, Tamworth, yesterday (1 August) at the end of a series of reflections on the windows in Tamworth, I am continuing my morning reflections for the rest of this week in these ways:

1, Looking at a depiction of the canticle ‘Te Deum’ in a church;

2, the Gospel reading of the day in the Church of England lectionary;

3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.

The upper part of the ‘Te Deum’ window in Holy Trinity Church (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

The ‘Te Deum’ Window (West Window), Holy Trinity Church, Coventry:

The West Window in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, known as the ‘Te Deum’ window, replaces the Victorian glass that was blown out during the Coventry Blitz in November 1940 in World War II.

This stunning window was designed by the artist Hugh Easton and dedicated in 1955.

The window shows Christ in Majesty, seated on a rainbow, his feet on the world. Below him are figures depicting the history of the Church and those who have dedicated their lives to the Christian faith.

The stained-glass artist Hugh Ray Easton (1906-1965) had his workshop in Cambridge. Most of his windows were made in Harpenden at the studio of Robert Hendra and Geoffrey Harper.

He was a doctor’s son, born in London on 26 November 1906. He studied in France and worked for the firm of Blacking in Surrey before setting up his studio in Cambridge. During World War II, he served at the Ministry of Information as a commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

After World War II, Eaton and his associates worked on many windows for churches and other institutions. He designed a memorial window in the Battle of Britain Chapel in Westminster Abbey. Many of his windows contain his ‘weathervane’ signature, including the south aisle east window in Saint Mary the Virgin Church, Burwell, Cambridgeshire.

Easton died in London on 15 August 1965. A memorial service was held in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey, on 24 September 1965.

The lower part of the ‘Te Deum’ window in Holy Trinity Church (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Matthew 13: 44-46 (NRSVA):

[Jesus said:] 44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.’

‘You, Christ, are the King of glory’ … Christ in Majesty, seated on a rainbow with his feet on the world, in the centre of the upper part of the ‘Te Deum’ window in Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Today’s Prayer:

The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church,’ the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘Reflections from the International Consultation.’ This theme was introduced on Sunday by the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones of the Church in Wales.

The USPG Prayer Diary today (2 August 2023) invites us to pray in these words:

Dear Lord, You are a strong tower and a mighty fortress. Help Your rescued children feel safe and begin to heal. Protect them from others who seek to harm them. (World Vision Prayer).

‘The white-robed army of martyrs praise you’ … the ‘Te Deum’ window in Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Collect:

Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern
both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws
and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

‘The glorious company of apostles praise you’ … the ‘Te Deum’ window in Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Post Communion:

Strengthen for service, Lord,
the hands that have taken holy things;
may the ears which have heard your word
be deaf to clamour and dispute;
may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;
may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love
shine with the light of hope;
and may the bodies which have been fed with your body
be refreshed with the fullness of your life;
glory to you for ever.

‘When you took our flesh to set us free, you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb’ … the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, surrounded by angels, depicted in the ‘Te Deum’ window in Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow<

‘Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you’ … the ‘Te Deum’ window in Coventry (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

‘Come then, Lord, and help your people’ … the ‘Te Deum’ window in Holy Trinity Church (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)