Confluence

River Hymn for Rogationtide

Joining in with the spirit of the Confluence project, the Reverend William Ridding of the four parishes Buckhorn Weston, Kington Magna, Fifehead Magdalen and West Stour based the whole Rogationtide service on the celebration of God's gift of water in creation.

Three weeks beforehand, ten members of the Stour villages gathered together in West Stour village hall in to compose a new hymn especially for this service in a workshop lead by Helen Porter. The resulting hymn 'Calm and Flowing Stream of Love' was rehearsed by the choir of the four churches, under the direction of Jo Harper, and sung at the Rogationtide services at Townsend Farm, West Stour and Lower Nyland Farm, Five Bridges on Sunday 9th May. Natasha Ridgeway (14) accompanied the hymn on the flute, and Mary Tonkin (14) sang solo.

The children's compass club made banners to accompany the service, and played music on the handbells to represent storms, rain and the cycle of water. The new hymn has been enthusiastically received into the repetoire of the congregation, and new music is continuing to be produced in the Stour villages with the Folk Ballads project run by Helen Porter with Dorset folk musician Tim Laycock.