However, the choir has felt for some time that it would like to be more closely aligned to the iconic building it calls home and all it stands for. With its new name the choir will now be instantly recognised for what it is and where it is based. The name change will put the choir more firmly on the musical map, particularly in the English Midlands, where most of its concerts are presented. It will also be more identifiable to a wider audience, both within the UK and beyond.
The choir has a membership of around ninety auditioned singers from all ages and walks of life and promotes its own season of concerts in Coventry Cathedral and at other venues in the English Midlands area. Over the years the choir has performed with numerous professional soloists, conductors and orchestras in many of the famous concert halls, cathedrals and great churches of the UK, as well as in mainland Europe.
Coventry Cathedral Chorus has made many recordings over the years, featuring in the Hymnmakers series for Kingsway Records which has been critically acclaimed in the UK and USA. Most recently it released a new recording of its own – ‘Carols from Coventry’ – which includes arrangements of Christmas carols in tribute to the late Sir David Willcocks. Tracks from the choir’s recordings are played on radio stations around the world.
The choir broadcasts on both radio and television and form part of the stage choir for BBC television’s annual Songs of Praise Big Sing, recorded in the Royal Albert Hall, London, and conducted by Paul Leddington Wright. But after 37 years under the stewardship of Paul Leddington Wright, Coventry Cathedral Chorus welcomed Rachel Mahon as the new Musical Director from January 2022.
(From their official site)
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
St. Michael's Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is a reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice he made for humanity. The first verse speaks to the wonder and awe one experiences when contemplating the cross on which the "Prince of glory" died. The singer, upon reflecting on this event, realizes that all the worldly gain they once held dear pales in comparison and that they must let go of their prideful ambitions in the face of such a sacrifice.
The second verse goes on to declare that the only thing worth boasting about is the death of Christ, for it is through this sacrifice that we can be saved. The singer then vows to give up all the things that were previously most important to them and surrender them to the blood of Christ.
The final verse continues with the imagery of the crucifixion and juxtaposes it with the vastness of nature. Even if the singer owned the entire world, it would still not be enough to properly express the love and sacrifice of Christ. The ultimate conclusion is that this love is too great to be measured or contained, and the only response is to give one's soul, life, and all to this divine love.
Line by Line Meaning
When I survey the wondrous cross
As I take a deep and contemplative gaze upon the cross where Christ was sacrificed
On which the Prince of glory died,
The cross is where the King of all creation offered Himself as a sacrifice
My richest gain I count but loss,
All my worldly and earthly acquisitions pale in comparison to the sacrifice Christ made on the cross
And pour contempt on all my pride.
I relinquish all self-importance and pretension to honor and reverence the sacrifice and humility of Christ
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
O God, do not let me celebrate my own achievements or possessions, except in Your Son's death
Save in the death of Christ my God!
May I only boast in and magnify the crucifixion of my Savior, who is also my God
All the vain things that charm me most,
Anything of this world that might entice me, captivate me, or allure me the most
I sacrifice them to His blood.
I willingly surrender those things to be consumed by the blood that Christ shed on the cross
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
I see clearly the wounds and agony that Christ endured for me, from the crown of thorns on His head to the nails in His hands and feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Both profound pain and unwavering love drip from the sacrificial wounds of Christ
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Has ever sadness and love come together in such a powerful form?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Has any headpiece as literally and metaphorically significant as the crown of thorns adorned any head?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
Even if I possessed everything in the natural world,
That were a present far too small;
It could never be enough of a gift, if any kind of worthy offering at all.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Because the love of God in Christ's death is so amazing, so perfect
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Only an all-encompassing response, including one's affections, spirit and life, is fitting for the extent of the love shown on the cross.
Writer(s): Gilbert M. Martin
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stmichaelandallangelschurc3012
A lovely hymn, beautifully sung and expertly presented, thank you
@jillseering.61
Thank you so much for putting the music out there with the lyrics
@TheVeryBFG
Thank you for keeping the faith alive
@lucie028
C'est vraiment un beau chant bien chanté avec toute une inspiration de sainteté, bonne continuation. Amen!!....
@Onesloft
wow
@kristinauestad7989
Picture of our local chapel!