Patrick Appleford
Patrick Appleford | |
|---|---|
Portrait photo of Patrick Appleford | |
| Born | 4 May 1925 |
| Died | 9 December 2018 (aged 93) |
| Education | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupations | Cleric, hymnodist |
| Church | Church of England |
Congregations served | Bishops' College, Cheshunt, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka, Chelmsford Cathedral |
| Known for | Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord), New English Mass |
Patrick Robert Norman Appleford (4 May 1925 – 9 December 2018)[1] was an English Anglican priest and hymnwriter. Along with Geoffrey Beaumont and others he was a founder of the "Twentieth Century Church Light Music Group" around 1960, which significantly affected the development of hymn-writing and hymn-singing across English-speaking churches from that time onwards.
Life
Appleford found his vocation to the priesthood at Trinity College, Cambridge, where Beaumont was chaplain. He studied for the ministry at Chichester and served his first curacy at All Saints Poplar, in the East End of London from 1952 to 1958.[2] He then served as chaplain of Bishops' College, Cheshunt (1958–61). From 1961 to 1966 he served with USPG, then moved to Lusaka, Zambia as Dean and Rector of Cathedral of the Holy Cross until 1972. On his return to England he was curate-in-charge of Sutton St Nicholas with Sutton St Michael (1973–75), then Chelmsford Diocesan Director of Education (1975–90) and Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral (1978–90).[1]
Music
His hymn "Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)", for which he wrote both music and text, is found in at least seventeen hymnals worldwide and has been translated into several languages.[3] The hymn evidences the influence of popular music and skiffle on Appleford's writing, and has been likened to Cliff Richard and the Drifters' 1959 hit, "Living Doll". When aged 18, the pop singer Garry Mills recorded several of Appleford's hymns for Oriole Records (UK), including "Living Lord", "Wonderful News" and "Rhythm is Religion".[4][5]
The music of his "New English Mass" set the emerging modern-language English texts of the Church of England communion service for congregational accessibility, establishing a trend which has been followed by many other composers of liturgical music.
References
- ^ a b "Deaths". Church Times. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ Fox, Michael (21 December 2018). "Obituary: Canon Patrick Appleford". Church Times. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Lord Jesus Christ". hymnary.org. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ Mitchell, Gillian A. M. (28 February 2019). Adult Responses to Popular Music and Intergenerational Relations in Britain, c. 19551975. Anthem Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-78308-902-4.
- ^ Brown, David (20 March 2008). God and Mystery in Words: Experience through Metaphor and Drama. OUP Oxford. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-19-160789-9.