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Compline and Antiphon of the Holy Name

The Antiphon of the Cross and Compline were recorded on 14 September (appropriately the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross). On the following day, there was an opportunity to enact Compline followed by an Antiphon of the Holy Name of Jesus (again sung in polyphony). On this occasion, after Compline the priest and singers processed (without singing) from the chancel to the Jesus altar at the east end of the south aisle. There they sang the antiphon with versicle and collect, gathered around a single copy on the lectern (as had the ‘boys’ singing Jesus Mass earlier in the day). The congregation instinctively moved from the nave to the south aisle, many of them kneeling in prayer and devotion as the antiphon was sung.

The full sequence of text resources used in this enactment can be found here.