Lift High the Cross | Arranged for congregation, choir, brass, timpani, percussion & organ

• Lift High the Cross
• Arranged for congregation, choir, brass quintet, timpani, percussion, and organ by PJ Janson
• St James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2017
• www.stjames.bc.ca
Lift High the Cross was originally written as a processional hymn for a festival service held in Winchester Cathedral (Hampshire, England) in 1887 by George William Kitchen. The hymn highlights a key feature of processionals, as in leading the procession the crucifer holds the cross high, showing the meaning of the Cross as a sign of victory as well as a sign of salvation that will draw us all to Christ.
The music for the hymn was written by Sir Sydney Nicholson in 1916 which, according to hymnologist JR Watson, shows ‘a fine sense of the potential of the words, the relatively subdued melody of the verses contrasting with the spectacular refrain.’ It captures the two images onto which the hymn is based, with the verses written in a minor key, and glorious refrain in a major key.
The first image of the hymn comes from a vision Constantine the Great had in 312. According to the Greek historian Eusebius, Constantine saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or “with this sign, you will conquer.”
The second image is rooted in St John 12 : 32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me,” which is wonderfully expressed in verse four of the hymn : “O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee.”
In this arrangement, composed specifically for the induction of The Revd Canon Kevin Hunt at St James' Anglican Church, the centrality of the cross is clearly reflected in its chiastic structure, meaning the verses are balanced around verse 4 with its core message and radiate outwards in mirrored form.
The significance of Lift High the Cross is well summarised by Tracy Moffatt : “We are a resurrection people, and we are not travelling this road alone. Jesus speaks the words ‘take up your cross and follow me’ to the disciples and the crowd - to all people. He speaks those words to us! In fact, the word ‘follow’ in Hebrew means ‘to take the same road as another does.’ It does not mean walk behind all alone but rather it means to walk alongside, to accompany another person. Or a whole congregation full of people.”

[@carlhilbrand6408]

I heard this song for the first time when I was told that my father passed away....it was such a low time for me...but this song got me through the hardest time in my life...I play it often in memory of my father...and remember who my heavenly Father is

[@laurasteinfeld2652]

What a brilliant fanfare introduction! The brass ensemble and percussion really adds to the majesty of this processional hymn

[@ChurchTrombonist]

As a church based trombonist and singer I could not agree with you more! Just found this arrangement now. WOW! To God alone give all the Glory!

[@TidoTee]

When I was one of two MCs at S. James in the late 1970s (Fr Gordon Gardner rector, Fr Lloyd Wright assistant, Fr Harold Nahabidian curate) The thurifer led the procession filling the church with magnificent smells. We seldom used this hymn and hearing this I wish we had included it more often. Happy memories of what still feels to be my home parish.

[@deanschulze3129]

Wonderful. People should have been standing in the aisles for this.

[@caridadjohn8868]

Outstanding brass section, love the timpani, superb organist, and marvelous choir

[@thomashenrydoak9150]

I have to say, I have never heard a more impressive arrangement of any hymn.

[@lilybolton5271]

An absolutely superb arrangement - bravo! One of my favourite hymns

[@christineparker6390]

I love the harmonization of the last verse

[@suzannekaram1995]

My favorite Anglican masterpieces!

[@carolepalmer4055]

This is the best arrangement I have ever heard of this great processional hymn. Well done!

[@elizabethbazan3452]

Esta canción la escuché por primera vez en la Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción, en Lancaster Ohio. Me llena de felicidad hasta hacerme llorar, no entendía la letra pero me sentía feliz al escucharla. Ahora que conozco el significado estoy muy agradecida a nuestro Señor 🙏

[@musicatstjamesanglicanchur2763]

Gracias por tu bonito comentario

[@margarethennessey2583]

This is just a beautiful hymn to me being blesled with in Christian home

[@elizabethsantos1533]

Amazingly beautiful

[@margarethennessey2583]

I just love this hymn. full of Gods wonderful blessings

[@kathleengarcia2179]

Majestic and beautiful. Absolutely glorious!

[@lisanicholas1083]

Beautiful and awe inspiring!

[@nancysimmons1358]

I love this hymn

[@sarahmcdonald7303]

This is an absolutely beautiful arrangement of Lift High The Cross

[@lenaaris6895]

WOW!!! What a fantastic arrangement!

[@roseking7675]

Enjoyed this soooo much!

[@manpreetkant3453]

Love it. Truly inspiring. Gave me goosebumps!

[@glennfletcher4387]

Wow! So impressed by the music!

[@DisneyprincessElly]

That was my grandpas favorite song his wife had passed away and now my grandpa passed away when I was in school I cried all lot during my classes and told them about him

[@hafeezahnazzim1944]

Beautiful arrangement with choir and brass

[@DisneyprincessElly]

That was my grandpas favorite song he liked it all lot his wife my grandma had passed away and he visited in our house and he died in my house for a few weeks then we sang it in his funeral where we went

[@montmorency1950]

A great church to hear the works of Healy Willan.

[@davidstuart401]

Wish I was here when this was sung. St. James, Vancouver does not have along nave so processions and recessionals are not that impressive. But the hymn is so inspirational that it is now one of the most favourite hymns at "funerals". And why not? At your life's end this hymns says all your life is for the glory of God and the Cross. Yes!

[@mastertyndale5883]

I was in the gallery singing that day. It was a special mass with visiting dignitaries and the Bishop. It was certainly one of the ten I remember over a dozen years.

[@vickiemeadows8441]

That was so beautiful! Thankyou!

[@chelseajohnson8226]

This looks like a relatively sm all church, but congregation, choir, organ, brass, and percussion come together in a way that is normally only heard in cathedrals!

[@mastertyndale5883]

Hi PJ. Only six years ago? Feels like another era.

[@musicatstjamesanglicanchur2763]

Yet, I remember it as though it were yesterday: We met on New Years' Day in 2017 to plan for the Induction of the Revd Canon Kevin Hunt, and I wrote this arrangement in 3 weeks in order to have the parts ready for rehearsal with the instrumentalists.

[@michaelcaza6766]

@@musicatstjamesanglicanchur2763 why bother singing this at all given your heresies? Your diocese did a vile thing by defrocking the late Rev. James I. Packer, and you did an even more vile thing by calling sin good via blessing same-sex “marriages.” There’s a clear reason why the ACoC won’t exist come 2040 and the only Anglican presence in Canada will be the ACNA (according to the ACoC’s own study), and it’s a real tragedy! GAFCON Anglicanism is true Anglican Protestantism, Anglican Use Roman Catholics are true Anglicans! The ACoC, like TEC, is a den of wolves and heretics! REPENT!

[@margarethennessey2583]

I love this this hymn. Just sap beautiful.

[@TidoTee]

Wait, there's more. Happy to see women among the clergy and that the mass is still celebrated facing east.

[@bw3747]

No, it is definitely not good to see women in the clergy, or any where else in a church except in the congregation.

[@THECURBLAYER]

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Though 1 Timothy 3 speaks of deaconesses being an exception. Women don’t belong in a pulpit, and that’s okay.

[@kwonbryan]

This is beautiful arrangement. Is there way to get the music?

[@druidical]

Is this a Presentation hymn?