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History: The Benedicite Kneelers






The heralding angel has been adopted as the symbol of Christ Church Deer Park.



The Benedicite Kneelers

Concept & Production
Mary Lou Thompson

Design
Joyce Hamilton

Stitchers
Edith Dean
Cynthia Eberts
Joan Radcliff
Mary Stevenson
Mary Lou Thompson
Sue Williams

Betty Howson
Joan Huycke
Anne LeFeuvre
Dorothy McKenzie
Jane Reeves






The full text of the Benedicite is found on page 26 of The Book of Common Prayer and on page 82 of The Book of Alternative Services.

It is the text of Song of the Three Children link » sometimes inserted in the text of the book of Daniel 3:23-91 (Apocrypha)

Also backgrounder here »

Detail from Chapel kneeler commissioned as a memorial and completed several years after the main altar rail kneelers


The commissioning and installation of the new organ entailed a dramatic change in the layout of the Chancel. The old kneelers, aside from being somewhat tired, no longer fit the new altar rail. Rather than replicating, and adding to, the old set, new kneelers were recommended. The idea was received and approved with enthusiasm.

The then Rector, Canon Ron Davidson, suggested the "Benedicite" as a theme - a Canticle taken from "The Song of the Three Children" in the Apocrypha and a paraphrase of Psalm 148. It is full of wonderful graphic images; the angels rejoice and praise is raised to all the works of the Lord. Text »

Stitching began in February 1985. Eleven CCDP women participated in the work, with a nucleus of six working on every canvas. Original projections allotted five years to complete the stitching. In celebration of the enthusiasm and loving commitment of the stitchers, the project was completed two years ahead of schedule and the kneelers were dedicated on May 15, 1988.

The work is comprised of thirteen sections and has a total length of 50 feet. More than 2,000,000 stitches make up the completed work. The design is continuous, radiating out from the central cushion that proclaims the main theme; "All ye works of the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him forever."

The Benedicite Kneelers were shown in their entirety at the sesquicentennial Liturgical Arts Festival at St. James Cathedral, Toronto, in the fall of 1989, where they received an award for excellence in design and quality of stitching. Sections of the kneelers are often requested for display. They are included in the book, Art of the Spirit, Contemporary Canadian Fabric Art (Dundurn Press, 1992).

One of 3 Chapel kneelers which were commissioned as a memorial and completed several years after the main altar rail kneelers


Benedicite, omnia opera – Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord is a canticle (from canticulum or little song) – a song based on a biblical text. The Benedicite or Song of Creation, is a paraphrase of Psalm 148. It is also called The Song of the Three Children, referring to three Jewish young people, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who gave thanks for deliverance from the fiery furnace referred to in the third chapter of the Old Testament Book of Daniel.

BENEDICITE, OMNIA OPERA - Song of the Three Children
Book of Common Prayer translation BCP p 26

O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord:
praise him, and magnify him for ever.

O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise...
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O let the Earth bless the Lord, praise ...
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord, praise...
O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O LET Israel bless the Lord, praise ...
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord, praise ...
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord, praise ...

History of CCDP
Introduction   |   The First Church   |   The Second Church   |   The Present Church   |   Incumbents

Christ Church Deer Park - There's Life Here!

Christ Church Deer Park

1570 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4T 1Z8

a 5-minute walk north of the St. Clair subway station
at the NW corner of Yonge & Heath


Phone: 416-920-5211   |   Fax: 416-920-8400   |     Email


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This page updated: 30 May 2009