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Note: The term
"Irvingite" is almost always appended to the name of the Catholic
Apostolic Church, and I have done so many times for the sake of
clarity. But the members of that Church rejected the name "Irvingite"
as they insisted they were not a personality cult. |
| Christ the King, Gordon Square |
One of my chief interests in the history of the English denomination named the Catholic Apostolic Church (CAC or CathAp) is in the two editions of its Hymnal compiled and edited by Edward Wilton Eddis, a poet who held the office of Prophet in the CAC. He co-authored the hymnal with Apostle John Bate Cardale, the architect of Catholic Apostolic liturgical worship.
Of the liturgical worship many wrote that the hymns of the Catholic Apostolic Church had a great deal to do with its success. Those hymns, compiled and edited by E.W. Eddis and Cardale, were printed without tunes A separate book entitled Hymn Tunes by Edmund Hart Turpin came slightly later as well as a tune book for the singing of the Psalter to Gregorian plainsong.
Many of the remembrances of Catholic Apostolic worship are of the strong, vibrant, vigorous singing of all the members. It was expected that all would sing, and all did sing. The liturgy was fixed with prayers intoned, and anything marked by rubric to be sung had to be sung. The Anglican manner of speaking things meant for singing was forbidden. Some of the early discussion about the success of this denomination focused upon the original hymns written by members of this Church and the enthusiastic manner in which the community sang to God.
Below you will find a scan of one of E.W. Eddis' finest hymns for the Eucharist. The second verse is not by Eddis but is consistent with his thought and the teaching of the CAC.
Following the hymn immediately a doxology was to be sung to the same tune, and the 2nd Edition of the hymnal provided the following text.
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Another text by E.W. Eddis worth sharing is one he wrote for Good Friday and Easter Eve. It expresses well the theology of this Church:
Our sins, our sorrows, Lord, were laid on Thee;
Thy stripes have healed, Thy bonds have set us free;
And now Thy toil is o’er, Thy grief and pain
Have passed away; the veil is rent in twain.
Now hast Thou laid Thee down in perfect peace
Where all the wicked from their troubling cease,
And tranquil Sabbath in the grave to keep;
Thy Father giveth His Belovèd sleep.
Yet in Thy glory, on the throne above,
Thou wast abiding ever, Love of Love,
Eternal, filling all created things
With Thine own presence, Jesus, King of kings!
E’en now our place is with Thee on the throne,
For Thou abidest ever with Thine own;
Yet in the tomb with Thee, we watch for day;
O let Thine angel roll the stone away!
O, by Thy life within us, set us free!
Reveal the glory that is hid with Thee!
Glory to God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Spirit, ever One.
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