This piece is featured in the latest edition of The Bridwell Quarterly.
Societas Liturgica conference bridges old and new in church music
Founded in 1962 by the Dutch Reformed pastor Wiebe Vos, Societas Liturgica has come together and provided an exceptional space for global discussion on the history and evolution of liturgical studies and practice. Its founding statement was to establish an organization “for the promotion of ecumenical dialogue on worship, based on solid research, with the perspective of renewal and unity.” Additionally, its core principles are a) to encourage research in the field of worship and allied subjects; b) to explore the pastoral implications of such research; c) to facilitate the exchange of the results of this research and other liturgical knowledge; d) to seek to deepen the mutual understanding of the various liturgical traditions; and e) to seek ways to make clear the relevance of liturgy in the contemporary world. This year, Societas Liturgica was held at the Institut Catholique de Paris (Catholic University of Paris), July 28th through August 1st. The Congress attracted many scholars and musicians and was attended by several members of Perkins School of Theology and Bridwell Library. At least a half dozen people from DFW participated in the conference activities and liturgical outings, including the private Taize-style service following the stations of the cross held in the newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral. The memorable and moving service was conducted by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Bernard Marie Ulrich. SMU attendees presented papers on a variety of topics, including church architecture and Brazilian musical performance practices, and Bridwell Press offered information and details about the newly established Journal of Praise & Worship.
Bridwell Press launches Journal of Praise & Worship at Oxford University
Every other year, the Christian Congregational Music Conference: Local and Global Perspectives meets at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford. This year it met in early August, following the Societas Liturgica conference in Paris. The gathering had some crossover, but was mostly attended by North American scholars and some from Europe. Many of the key figures involved in the Cuddesdon Conference have been instrumental in founding and operating the new Journal of Praise & Worship, soon to be published by Bridwell Press. The highlight of the conference itself was the special launch party and reception held at Oxford University itself, in the famed “Harry Potter Hospital Hall” of the Divinity School at the old Bodleian. Bridwell hosted the event and shared in a champagne toast with members of the founding board and editorial committees, along with approximately 80 other attendees in the grand old space in the center of Oxford. The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, former Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, was in attendance, and participated in the activities of the conference. The launch of the new journal is a significant moment in the history of the Bridwell Press, establishing its prominence in the scholarly world of liturgy, sacred and church music, and the broader academic theological community, but also in a global space of academic publishing of open-access scholarship. Participating in the Cuddesdon Conference and making our official announcement of this new journal in the heart of one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished academic institutions is meant to show the bridging of both tradition and the future. And many great things will emerge from this new interdisciplinary journal.
This piece is featured in the latest edition of The Bridwell Quarterly, where you can read more about this story and other news at Bridwell. For insight from the Bridwell director, visit Bridwell for the latest edition of The Bridwell Quill, a thought piece written by Anthony Elia.