A series of photos taken from Bridge 196 over the Trent & Mersey Canal at various seasons over a few years. All © Andrew Pratt 2026
Thank you to the Canal & River Trust for maintaining this beautiful place
Montage of views from Photoshop © Andrew Pratt
New Year – from darkness toward light - As constant as the pulsar's pulse - a hymn for the first Sunday in the New Year or for a Watchnight Service
1 As constant as the pulsar's pulse,
as certain as the rising sun;
in darkness love will never die,
nor horror snuff our human worth.
2 The sounding of a baby's cry
as suckling, taken from her breast,
demands a mother's full concern,
so you have heard our hoarse lament.
3 Our cry goes out through all the world,
through this and each succeeding age;
your glance returns our wanting gaze,
and none escape your light or love.
Metre: LM Tune: HEREFORD (Wesley)
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2002 © Stainer & Bell Ltd,
London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk .
Please include any reproduction for
local church use on your CCL Licence returns.
All wider and any commercial use requires
prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Image (c) Andrew Pratt 2025
When evil gathers in the wings - A hymn for Remembrance at a time of international tension
1 When evil gathers in the wings
the time of crisis offers choice:
to rise with courage and resist
or keep our silence, still each voice.
What shall we do when chaos reigns,
act out God’s love? Submit to chains?
2 As history echoes from the past,
while memories can tend to fade,
‘lest we forget’ let us recast
the hard decisions others made:
to live the love that Christ had shown,
self-sacrificial, Spirit blown.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2019 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 8 8 8 8 8 8
Tune: ABINGDON
For all its beauty snow and ice can be dangerous, or keep us in our homes. This week’s text looks back to memories and forward to hopes, to sunlight glinting on the water
1 Sunlight glinting on the water,
moonlight filtered by the trees,
nature constantly reminding,
spirit moving with the breeze,
God is present in creation,
God is here in such as these.
2 Holding visions in our memories,
cherishing all we have known,
things of beauty, scenes of wonder,
gifts of grace we cannot own,
all the joys that God has given,
all the love that Christ has shown.
3 Now we come to offer worship
for each heart and mind’s delight,
for all human care and friendship,
for the soaring spirit’s flight,
God we offer praise each morning
for your living, dancing light.
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2015 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 8 7 8 7 8 7
Tune: RHUDDLAN
hymnsandbooks 