O God, we thank you that your name

Michael Perry’s text first appeared in 3 stzs in Psalms for Today (1990), having been written for that book a year earlier. In one of the briefest notes in his own collection Singing to God (1995) the author says ‘This is another of those Psalms which nobody else wanted to versify … My intention was to distil the truths from it for worship’. But the vv he omits (7–8 in the Scripture text) were felt by the editorial group to be integral to the Psalm, as well as strikingly memorable in their imagery, even prophetic of the ‘cup’ which Jesus had to drink (Mark 14:36 and parallels). For the present book Mrs Beatrice Perry, Michael’s widow and executrix, kindly agreed to the addition of a new stz 3 reflecting this theme and consistent with the original patterns of assonance, with due acknowledgment of its source. The revised Anglo- Genevan Psalter (Winnipeg 1984) has for its concluding verse, ‘Psalms I sing and praise I shout;/ I will pay my vows to God./ I shall ever heed his rod;/ Jacob’s God, my joy rings out …’ The mid-20th-c DYFNAINT by Hywel Islwyn Edwards, appearing here in a hymn-book for the first time, is ‘a simple classical tune with chorale-like harmony.’ So writes David Preston, who found it in Welsh Flavour, a small publication of hymns set to Welsh tunes issued by Ken Battye in Carnforth, Lancs. It replaces Paul Edwards’ COPLE which first launched the words, or its alternative WINCHESTER NEW (348).

b Beckenham, Kent 1942, d Tonbridge, Kent 1996. Dulwich Coll, Oak Hill and Ridley Hall Theological Colls, London and Southampton Univs (BD, MTh). Ordained (CofE) 1965; after curacies at St Helen’s, Lancs and Bitterne, Southampton, he became incumbent of Bitterne (1972), Eversley, Hants (1981), where Charles Kingsley was a predecessor, and finally Tonbridge from 1989. A contributor to Youth Praise 2 in 1969, he was then an editorial team member for Psalm Praise (1973) and Hymns for Today’s Church (1982, 1987), Canon of Rochester, member of General Synod, Chairman of Church Pastoral Aid Society and (from 1982) succeeding Jim Seddon as Hon Sec of Jubilate Hymns. Under Jubilate auspices he edited a stream of hymn, song, carol and Psalm and prayer books, in collaboration with David Iliff, David Peacock, Noël Tredinnick, Norman Warren and others. He edited The Dramatized Bible (1989), compiled the reference-handbook Preparing for Worship (1995), and wrote and spoke widely on many aspects of worship, in the UK and on visits to W Africa and N America. Over all, he possessed the gift of being able to handle vast amounts of work with a light touch and ready (but never unkind) humour. His 183 texts were collected in Singing to God: Hymns and Songs 1965–1995, a slightly Americanised volume, in the year before his early death from a brain tumour. His first published song (words and music) was ‘The Calypso Carol’ in 1963; see no.374, note. Including paraphrases, 40 of his texts are in HTC (1987 edn), 8 in Baptist Praise and Worship (1991), 18 in Sing Glory (1999), 8 in the N American Worship and Rejoice (2001), 15 in Carols for Today (2005) and 27 in Carol Praise (2006), not counting several versions attributed to ‘Word and Music’ which are predominantly his. For some 20 years he and Christopher Idle would exchange friendly mutual criticism of each other’s texts. MAP believed that ‘Our preparation for worship can only go so far. It is doomed if the Spirit of the Lord is not in it. On the other hand, God is sovereign; he can “take over” any kind of worship, provided that those who lead and those who participate are open to his grace’. He also consistently urged that ‘to be obscure is an indulgence we cannot allow ourselves’.
Michael is published by Praise! numbers 49, 75, 82, 88, 137, 128, 148, 153, 172, 187, 211, 213, 277, 323, 332, 373, 374, 382, 481, 624, 694, 872, 929, 947 and by Praise! online at numbers 1082, 1132.