‘Despite the dire predictions of certain doom-mongers, the quality of British liturgical choral music commissioned in the past few years has continued to be of the highest quality and the greatest interest. This glorious new album, recorded in 2020, features 11 newish works, superlatively performed and recorded in stunning detail … under James O’Donnell’s inspired direction, the Abbey’s choristers throw themselves wholeheartedly into this demanding repertory, in performances that will surely dispel any lingering Covid blues’ (Gramophone)

‘This excellent collection of contemporary British choral works is a breath of fresh air, offering a gladly unstuffy vision of church music for the 21st century … beautifully performed and skilfully recorded, this is an altogether rewarding listen that inspires reflection and devotion’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More

‘Jonathan Dove’s Vast ocean of light makes a superb opener for the recording—the idea of luminescence and spaciousness in Phineas Fletcher’s text so effectively evoked—and it has a thunderous conclusion as well: Matthew Martin’s Behold now, praise the Lord, written in memory of organist John Scott, with an organ part he’d surely have loved, ending with a massive outburst of sound played with the forearm. It’s all been wonderfully captured in the building; all the space and dynamic range you could wish for’ (BBC Record Review)

‘These are beautifully poised and fluent performances, lovingly shaped by James O’Donnell and exquisitely captured by the Hyperion recording engineers. Highest praise, however, must go to Peter Holder, whose handling of the often extensive and always highly virtuoso organ accompaniments, is utterly, breathtakingly, marvellous’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘This is a very fine disc indeed. The choir is on top form throughout; clearly James O’Donnell has prepared them thoroughly for the assignment and then conducted them superbly. Peter Holder’s organ playing is marvellous throughout. The recording is excellent. The seasoned team of producer Adrian Peacock and engineer David Hinitt have captured the performances thrillingly, with the Abbey’s organ heard in all its splendour but never overwhelming the singers … besides giving further proof of the excellence of the music-making at Westminster Abbey, this disc also confirms that terrific music is being written for the liturgy in the opening decades of the twenty-first century. That in itself is a cause for celebration’ (MusicWeb International)» More