This is an excerpt of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) individual programme entitled, “Songs of Praise.” The base video was recorded on 21 October 1975. The recording of, “All People That on Earth do Dwell,” and “Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer,” and other hymns were completed at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Godmanchester. Joining the parishioners were the congregants from the new Silver Street Baptist Church building and the Godmanchester Salvation Army Chapel. The full-length individual programme was broadcast on 9 January 1977.

The Benediction was given by Vicar and Canon Reverend Jonathan Priestland Young, Saint Mary the Virgin, Godmanchester. Rev’d Young published the book entitled, “Taking Stock,” in 1994. In 2001, he was named Vicar of Spaldwick. Later, he was named Chair of the House of Clergy for the Diocese of Ely. As a priest, he currently serves the Godmanchester and Hilton Benefice. Presently he is 78 years old.

The very first programme for, “Songs of Praise,” was broadcast in October 1961. Within the worldwide reach of the BBC, over time, viewers nicknamed the programme, “The God slot.”

The County of Cambridgeshire in England, U.K. has the following towns in it from the highest to the lowest populations: Huntingtonshire, St. Neots, Ramsey, St. Ives, and Godmanchester. As of 2021, Godmanchester has a population of over 7,700 persons and 2 churches.

Guide me o thou great Redeemer

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me now and evermore
Feed me now and evermore

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

Text by William Williams Pantycelyn. The Welsh hymn tune named, “Cwm Rhondda,” was written by John Hughes in 1907.

Pertinent Scripture references are:

Psalm 105:37-43
Psalm 107:1-9
Deuteronomy 29:2-9 (v.1)
Psalm 136:16 (v.1)
Exodus 13:21-22 (v.2)
Isaiah 48:21 (v.2)
Psalm 28:7 (v.2)
Joshua 3:7-17 (v.3)

All People That On Earth Do Dwell (verses 2-5)

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make.
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

Oh, enter, then, His gates with praise,
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His name always.
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? The Lord, our God, is good;
His mercy is forever sure.
His truth at all times firmly stood
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

The author of the hymn was Rev. Deacon William Kethe. From the Scottish Psalter, 1650.

This song has 35 Scripture references.

The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is an Anglican church. Construction dates into the 1200s, with most of the construction dating between the 1200s and the 1400s. Its tower was built in 1623. The choir area has finely carved and decorated wooden seats known as stalls, and these were constructed with misericords in the late 1400s.

The 2 manual organ located in the choir stall area was built by the Bryceson Brothers of London, England in 1859. It is a tribute to the quality of the original craftsmanship that no major work was carried out on the organ in the years prior to this recording.
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With thanks to Ms. Mary Whitman-Hardy, who was featured in the full-length broadcast and had an analog copy. She is a retired Primary Teacher at Cambridgeshire County Council, Godmanchester who is now teaching music from home.

A-D-D [Analog-Digital-Digital]

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