The Mass Ordinary and Harold Darke’s Communion Service in E "Collegium Regale"

A staple of Anglican musical life is its rich tradition of sung Mass settings. Formally known as the Mass Ordinary, this group of liturgical texts - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus & Benedictus, and Agnus Dei - became part of Christian worship gradually, entering the Western liturgy between the 4th and 7th centuries.

Throughout the month of October, the St. Jude’s Choir will sing Harold Darke’s Communion Service in E, "Collegium Regale", a setting of the Mass Ordinary rooted in this enduring choral tradition.

Harold Darke (1888–1976) was a distinguished English composer and organist, best known for his lasting contributions to Anglican church music. He served for over 50 years as organist at St. Michael Cornhill in London and, during World War II, briefly held the position of Acting Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge in 1941.

It was during this wartime appointment at King’s that Darke composed his Communion Service in E, later published under the title "Collegium Regale", Latin for “King’s College.” The title reflects a tradition popularized by Herbert Howells, whose own Collegium Regale settings were also written for King’s. These works, including Darke’s, continue to shape the musical landscape of Anglican worship, particularly in the context of the Mass Ordinary and Holy Communion services.

Join us this October as we explore this beautiful and reverent music - a testament to the ongoing power of sacred choral tradition.

Sebastian Moreno
Director of Music