How good a thing it is

How good a thing it is. James Edward Seddon* (1915-1983). Psalm 133 was among the author’s assigned texts for paraphrasing as Psalm Praise was being compiled; as a member of the editorial team he wrote this version, ca. 1972, while Rector of Hawkwell, Essex. When the book was published in 1973, this was one of his 11 texts featured. They included popular versions of Psalms 61 and 149, a Nunc dimittis* (‘Lord, now let your servant’) and his much-used ‘Whitsun canticle’ (Irish Church Praise, 1990, and ICH5, 2000). The latter two of these also proved welcome in the USA. All these paraphrases, including this of Psalm 133, use rhyme. Norman Warren* provided a new tune (later named UNITED MAN);...