Order of Service

---

The Making of a Minster

Forward by Tudor F L Griffiths
Rector of Cheltenham

---

Order of Service

Civic Procession

Processional Hymn

Crown him with many crowns

The Bishop of Gloucester says

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
There is one Body and one Spirit.
There is one hope to which we were called.
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism,
One God and Father of all.

The Bishop introduces the service.

Prayers of Penitence

Remember, Lord, youyr compassion and love,
for they are everlasting.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions,
but think on me in your goodness, O Lord,
according to your steadfast love.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

O keep my soul and deliver me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I have put my trust in you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive you your sins,
and make you holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Collect

Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was presented in the Temple
in substance of our flesh;
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Malachi 3: 1-5
(Opens in a new tab or window)

Hymn

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want

Luke 2: 22-40
(Opens in a new tab or window)

Sermon

The Right Reverend Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester

Anthem

The Minster Singers: Locus Iste by Anton Bruckner

Locus iste a Deo factus est,
inaestimabile sacramentum,
irreprehensibilis est.

This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof.

The Inauguration and Blessing of the Minster

The Bishop reads the Foundation Document of the Minster.

He signs the Document and presents it to the Rector and Wardens.

The Bishop moves to the body of the Church and says

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation; you call us together in this town to work in partnership with one another for the benefit of the whole community; you give gifts to each one of us so that we may serve you both in our work and in our leisure; you enable us to communicate your love to those in need; you encourage us in the pursuit of truth; you challenge us to be people of integrity in all that we do; grant that we may continue to respond to your call as we seek you in our neighbours.

Blessed be God for ever.

In the Faith of Christ, and for the benefit of the whole Church in the service of the Town, we inaugurate and bless this Minster Church of St Mary, to the glory of God, in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Children from Holy Trinity C of E Primary School sing: Brighter Day

Holy Trinity is a town centre school with 200 pupils. Children from years 5 & 6 have recently been involved in a workshop run by iSingPOP, a national initiative to bring schools, churches and communities together through music. It gives churches an opportunity to partner in a schools project, developing links with the school and local community through hosting a performance.

A Call to Commitment

The Bishop addresses the congregation:

Having inaugurated this new Minster Church of St Mary, Cheltenham, I now ask you to commit yourselves to one another and to God, so that this place may be a beacon of light to our town.

Will you, the people of this town, do all in your power to work together for justice, freedom and peace?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with the leaders of all the churches, to make the Good News of Jesus available for all?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with those who lead our public life, to make wise and courageous decisions?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with those who teach in our schools, colleges and University, to grow in knowledge and understanding?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with those who minister healing, to care for the sick and sorrowful and all on the margins of our society?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with those whose daily work brings prosperity and security, to inspire us all to work for a well ordered society?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you work together with those whose talents are not used, that they may find a sense of purpose and renewal of hope.
With the help of God, we will.

May God who has enabled you to make these commitments, Inspire and strengthen you in the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfil them.
In the name of Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Collect for the Minster

Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new;
remember in your mercy this Minster Church
and this town of Cheltenham;
and give us grace and courage
to do your will,
that the new life of your kingdom
may be made known in this place,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hymn

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song.

Prayers of Intercession

Dr Peter Ormerod, Deputy Church Warden

We pray for this new Minster;
we give thanks for its centuries of Christian witness,
for those who have knelt where prayer has been valid.
Continue, Lord, to look with grace on all
who come to this place.
Make it a place of wholeness and healing,
of reconciliation and joy in the name of Jesus Christ.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Edward Gillespie, Esq, Alderman

We pray for our town,
for all places of learning,
of commerce and business,
of leisure and entertainment,
for all engaged in ensuring our security and well-being.
We pray for our Mayor, our MP and all civic leaders.
Lord, in all the busy-ness and bustle of Cheltenham,
give us your peace
and passion for justice in all our dealings,
that we may be a town renowned for its integrity
and where the name of Jesus is honoured.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

The Revd Maz Allen, URC Minister

We pray that we may be a people of hospitality,
where we welcome the stranger
and the unloved,
care for all in any kind of need or trouble.
We pray for all in minority communities,
and all who feel themselves alienated from the mainstream.
Give us eyes to see
and hearts of compassion,
and may this Minster be a place of hospitality and
welcome to all,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Esther Tarling, Dean Close School

We pray for all who are represented here,
and offer our particular spheres of responsibility
to you in a moment of silence…

Lord, make us channels of your peace.
That where there is hatred we may bring love,
That where there is wrong, we may bring the spirit of forgiveness,
That where there is discord, we may bring harmony,
That where there is error we may bring truth,
That where there is doubt we may bring faith,
That where there is despair we may bring hope,
That where there are shadows we may bring light,
That where there is sadness we may bring joy.
Lord, grant that we may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
To understand than to be understood,
To love than to be loved.
For it is by forgetting self that we find.
It is by forgiving that we are forgiven,
it is by dying that we awaken to eternal life.
Amen.

As Jesus taught us, we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Hymn

At the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow

The Bishop says

God bless this town of Cheltenham,
its homes and its people,
its commerce and business,
its places of healing and learning,
and all who visit this place.
God bless this Minster,
and all who work and come here;
may it be a place of safety and peace,
putting Jesus at the centre
of our lives and our town,
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

The Rector of Cheltenham says

Let us go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.