Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#492

492. Our Voice Would Be a Useless Cry

Text Information

• First Line: Our voice would be a useless cry
• Title: Our Voice Would Be a Useless Cry
• Author: Marie J. Post (1974, alt.)
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Topic: Redemption; Holy Spirit; Missions; New Creation; Witness
• Copyright: Text © 1974, CRC Publications

Tune Information

• Name: WELLINGTON SQUARE
• Composer: Guy Warrack (1931)
• Meter: CMD
• Key: f minor
• Copyright: By permission of Oxford University Press

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Mark 4:35-41, Matt. 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25
st. 3 = Rev. 5:11-12

Marie J. Post (PHH 5) wrote this text in 1970 and entered it in a hymn-writing contest sponsored by the Missionary Monthly magazine (it received honorable mention). It was first published in the Psalter Hymnal Supplement (1974).

The text incites our devotion to God, whose Holy Spirit is active in all Christian work. The Spirit equips us for ministry in the world and produces fruit from our human efforts (st. 2). God in Christ works in us and empowers us to labor in his name (st. 2). The same Spirit who inspires our preaching of God's Word has already revealed to us the great victory song of Revelation 5 and 7 (st. 3).

Liturgical Use:
Pentecost; Epiphany; services that focus on missions or similar kingdom themes (for mission festivals or ecumenical services use the better-known alternate tune ALL SAINTS NEW found at 110).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

An energetic tune in minor tonality, WELLINGTON SQUARE is a rounded bar form (AABA) built around variations on the first four notes. Though it could be sung in parts by a choir, have the congregation sing in unison with confident tones from the organ.

Guy Warrack (b. Edinburgh, Scotland, 1900; d. Englefield Green, Surrey, England, 1986) composed WELLINGTON SQUARE for the 1931 edition of the British Songs of Praise. In that hymnal it was set to a text by Jan Struther (pseudonym for Joyce Torrens-Graham), "When Stephen, Full of Power and Grace."

Warrack studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, England, and at the Royal College of Music, where he was a student of Ralph Vaughan Williams. A teacher at the Royal College of Music from 1925 to 1935, Warrack also held a number of important conducting posts. He was conductor of the BBC Scottish Orchestra and musical director of the Sadler's Wells Theater Ballet. Warrack composed many orchestral pieces, including his Symphony in C minor and film scores for documentaries.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook