Update 2 May 2026:  I meant to add this to the original article.  Howells composed the Gloucester Service in 1946 when he was in his 50s.  Reports indicate he produced this canticle setting in “a single sitting.”

The Magnificat begins at approximately 30.49.

The Nunc Dimittis begins at approximately 39.20.

This performance from The Queen’s College Choir (Oxford) is one of the best performances I have heard of the Gloucester Service and it’s an excellent recording.  My choral friend agreed.  He also thought that the Men of the Choir could have been louder in places.  Yes, they could have been unless the Choirmaster told them otherwise.  The choristers also nicely carried over some phrases — that’s more difficult — in places where other choral ensembles take a breath (which is easier).

Howells wrote the “smokey” Gloucester Service for the Choir and acoustics of Gloucester Anglican Cathedral.

For me, one of the best parts of the Gloucester Service is the Gloria where the sopranos soar up to that high A.

The Queen’s College Chapel is part of the established Church of England.

I also like the conducting style of their Director (Owen Rees); he doesn’t make it all about himself as some Directors/Choirmasters do with grand gestures and the like, trying to make themselves look important as if the performance would fall apart — which it wouldn’t — if he were not there directing.  Owen’s conducting style is rather discreet and he conducts the way we were taught to conduct at the Conservatory.

This was a “Family Guest Night” Choral Evensong and I noticed that some of the family members (presumably) were not Church of England so they refused to turn East for the Apostles’ Creed, for example.  (roll eyes)  Would it have really put them out too much to face the High Altar?  Some people!

I had a relative like that.  She seemed afraid of being in an Anglican Liturgy and refused to come into the parish where I was Organist/Choirmaster.  She was Southern Baptist (groan).  The organ console was in the back of the Nave and I told her she could just sit back there by me and observe.  Nope, she wasn’t about to do that.  She refused and said she would just sit in the car.  (roll eyes).

Regarding Anglican protocol:  It’s interesting that the High Church Movement began at Oxford and today I see no one, including the priest at The Queen’s College Chapel Oxford, bowing for the Gloria of either the Magnificat or the Nunc Dimittis.  Although bowing for the Gloria is not limited to High Church.  It’s just that if anyone were going to bow, one would expect it to be the High Church people.

One is also supposed to genuflect to the reserved sacrament.  These days, I see some people genuflecting on the odd occasion.  Others (most?) curtsy — don’t put yourselves out! — as if King Charles III (the Supreme Governor of the Church of England) is in attendance, even in an Anglo-Catholic parish (High Church).  I won’t name churches.  A curtsy is not the same as genuflecting.  One is also supposed to bow to the processional crosses.  Today a few do, whilst others do a lazy nod.  Nodding is not bowing.  What is wrong with people or have they forgotten what they were taught in Confirmation Class about the CoE/Anglican/Episcopal Church and why we do what we do?  There’s a reason for everything.