Sir John Stainer
Poem★★★★InSt. Paul’s Cathedral in London there is a memorial to Sir John Stainer, the composer of “The Crucifixion” and organist of the cathedral for many years. Above the carving of his face and head is an altar, surrounded by cherubim, with this inscription: “I saw the Lord.” Having ~ seen the Lord, by way of music which speaks the language of the soul, he was able to help those who came to worship within those hallowed walls to see God.
Some of us who worship in the church may still be thinking of music as an “incidental” in worship. To any such should come the challenge this Lord’s Day to seek for God in the music. How enriching will be that experience!—W. T.
Ellis. There is a well-known and beautiful legend which tells how our great Christian chant, the Te Deum sprang by sudden inspiration to the lips of Ambrose and Augus- tine at the baptism of the latter in the Church of St. John
The point
Sir John Stainer's memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral bears the inscription 'I saw the Lord.' Because he perceived God through music's spiritual language, he enabled others in the cathedral to encounter God. Music is not incidental but central to worship and seeing God.