In Christ There Is No East or West

In Christ there is no east or west (Perry)

Author: Michael A. Perry (1982)
Tune: MCKEE
Published in 7 hymnals

Printable scores: MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI
Representative text cannot be shown for this hymn due to copyright.
See page scan previews below.

Author: Michael A. Perry

Initially studying mathematics and physics at Dulwich College, Michael A. Perry (b. Beckenham, Kent, England, 1942; d. England, 1996) was headed for a career in the sciences. However, after one year of study in physics at the University of London, he transferred to Oak Hill College to study theology. He also studied at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and received a M.Phil. from the University of Southhampton in 1973. Ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1966, Perry served the parish of St. Helen's in Liverpool as a youth worker and evangelist. From 1972 to 1981 he was the vicar of Bitterne in Southhampton and from 1981 to 1989, rector of Eversley in Hampshire and chaplain at the Police Staff College. He then became vicar of Tonbridge in Ke… Go to person page >

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Isa. 49:12, Luke 13:29, Acts 17:26, Col. 3:11, Gal. 3:28
st. 2 = 2 Cor. 5:18-19

Many hymnals contain William A. Dunkerley's "In Christ There Is No East or West," a hymn text written in 1908 by Dunkerley under the pseudonym of John Oxenham. However, it is ironic that this text about the worldwide church has been considered by many in the twentieth century to have an exclusively male emphasis. Consequently, various recent hymnal editors have altered the text. Michael A. Perry (PHH 299) concluded that the revision needed to be so radical that an entirely new text would be a better choice. Thus Perry kept only Dunkerley's opening line and wrote a new text on the same theme. Perry's text was published in Hymns for Today's Church in 1982.

Based on New Testament passages such as Galatians 3:28 and 1 John 4:7-12, this text describes certain ideal characteristics of the church: its comprehensiveness (st. 1), unity (st. 2, 5), love (st. 3), and holiness (st. 4), ideals for which we must continually work and pray. Perry says of his text, "The spirit of reconciliation was invoked from the Pauline Epistles, and the spirit of fellowship from the Johanine."

Liturgical Use:
For Worldwide Communion, All Nations Sunday, All Saints Day, and other church festivals such as Pentecost; splendid for ecumenical services.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

MCKEE

MC KEE has an interesting history. According to a letter from Charles V. Stanford (PHH 512) to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (who arranged the tune for piano in his Twenty-Four Negro Melodies, 1905), MC KEE was originally an Irish tune taken to the United States and adapted by African American slaves. It…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #540
  • Full Score (XML)
Worship and Rejoice #600
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (XML)
  • Bulletin Score (XML)
  • Full Score (XML)
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #137
  • Full Score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)
Text

Ancient and Modern #680

TextPage Scan

Moravian Book of Worship #781

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #540

Text

The Worshiping Church #695

TextPage Scan

Trinity Psalter Hymnal #414

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

With Heart and Voice #137

TextScoreAudioPage Scan

Worship and Rejoice #600

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us