An Old English Prayer – SATB

“God be in my head, and in my understanding…” For more than 500 years, this beloved prayer has offered a simple, sincere plea for God’s presence in every part of daily life — in thought, in sight, in speech, and at the last departing. Drawn from the 1514 Sarum Primer, the text has since appeared in more than 80 hymnals across multiple traditions and languages, remaining one of English devotional poetry’s most enduring prayers.

James Gossler’s SATB setting, An Old English Prayer, honors that legacy with unpretentious vocal lines and soothing a cappella cadences that let the text’s quiet sincerity carry the piece. Published by H.T. FitzSimons in 2014, this medium-easy octavo suits church choirs seeking a modest, meditative anthem for worship, memorial services, ordinations, weddings, or any moment calling for quiet reflection. Its close, accessible four-part harmonies make it approachable for choirs of varying experience while still delivering a warm, reverent sound.

At a glance:

• Text source: The Sarum Primer (1514), a historic English prayer also known as the “Sarum Prayer”
• Composer: James Gossler
• Voicing: SATB, a cappella
• Difficulty: Medium Easy
• Publisher: H.T. FitzSimons (2014), Catalog #F2372
• Best for: Worship services, memorials, ordinations, and other reflective liturgical moments

This modest and entreating petition will honor any service.