Sermon On The Anthem Faire Is The Heaven, Evensong

FAIRE IS THE HEAVEN

Fair is the heaven where happy souls have place,

In full enjoyment of felicity,

Whence they do still behold the glorious face

Of the divine eternal Majesty…

Yet far more fair be those bright Cherubins,

Which all with golden wings are overdight (clothed / equipped)

And those eternal burning Seraphins,

Which from their faces dart out fiery light;

Yet fairer than they both, and much more bright,

Be th' Angels and Archangels, which attend

On God's own person, without rest or end.

These thus in fair each other far excelling,

As to the highest they approach more near,

Yet is that highest far beyond all telling,

Fairer than all the rest which there appear,

Though all their beauties join'd together were;

How then can mortal tongue hope to express

The image of such endless perfectness?

Music by William Henry Harris (1883-1973)

Text by Edmund Spenser (1552-99)