Here are David's notes from various sources...
Lionel Dakers, formerly Director of the Royal School of Church Music and editor of the
New Church Anthem Book (OUP 1992) and its accompanying handbook wrote :
‘This is one of the best and most rewarding examples of the romantic church music which emerged in England at the turn of the 19th / 20th centuries. The words are majestic and the spacious music even more so, emphasising the theme of God’s radiance awakening new joy in faith and leading on to a quick succession of various statements in which the music builds up in intensity and volume towards a great final climax. For most singers, organists and listeners alike, this is the epitome of church music romanticism at its most telling.
The richly sustained broad vocal lines are supported by an equally fine organ part. Projecting a warm and generous tonal texture with expressively- shaped contours is very much part and parcel of the scheme of things. The composer highlights the climaxes in an impressive and exciting way, the organ contributing greatly towards this. The ternary shape of the anthem lends itself to a colourful treatment in which the quieter, though no less urgent, middle section Come, quickly come is in marked contrast to the forceful outer movements. The final section is very fine, with the organ lending its weight to the build-up towards the triumphant Amen.’.
From Wikipedia
‘Charles Wood (June 15th 1866 – July 12th 1926) was an Irish composer and teacher. Born in Armagh, in present-day Northern Ireland, he studied at the Royal College of Music and Cambridge University, where he later taught harmony and counterpoint, becoming professor of music in 1924. For most of his career, he worked at Gonville and Caius College, first as ‘organist scholar’ and then as a fellow. He was instrumental in the reflowering of music there, though more as a teacher and organiser of musical events than as composer. Like his better known colleague and former teacher, Charles Villiers Stanford, he is chiefly remembered for his Anglican church music. He also wrote eight string quartets, co-edited three books of carols and was co-founder (in 1904) of the Irish Folk Song Society. His pupils included Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells.’
The Charles Wood Summer School was founded in 1994 in Armagh to promote his music and Irish connections.
rocked up to join Dolly Parton,
Jesus, 
Edie the Egyptian with Marius the Morrocan.
a marvelous rabbit,
a few Romans, Al Capone, the beautiful goddess Lakshme, 
Gita the geisha 
various members of "Little Britain",
etc etc. We had a ball.
From Wikipedia...."The Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English bar as barristers. (The others are the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn.) "
It is near the Royal Courts of Justice, within the City of London."
The beautiful lantern that hangs in the hallway. The image of the lamb carrying the Knights standard was everywhere.
A "Parliament hinge". (Well Richard is a carpenter.)
This was the headquarters of the Knights Templar in the 13th century. Here we are outside the ancient Temple Church...
It was like being in the middle of a film. The Da vinci code or Harry Potter or Shakespeare in love, or Bridget Jones diary. Here's a photo of Richard & I coming out of the doors that Renee Zelweger & Hugh Grant come out of in the 2nd film, 'The edge of reason'.
It was sensational. I remembered that he had painted a lot of the Spanish court but I'd completely forgotten he'd painted the 'Rokeby Venus', one of the very few nudes surviving the Spanish inquisition & its censorship. So beautiful in real life. She has the most amazing figure and you can almost touch her skin.
I have never been so excited in all my life. Here we were watching one of the most amazing firework displays in the whole world. I was jumping up & down whooping with delight. Afterwards we went back into the hallowed Halls in the Middle temple where Richard lives & drank champagne as he played violin to us.
