Gayaza Church music: Is it a revolution or redemption of a lost tradition?

The Anglican Church is commonly acknowledged for its sweet hymns that always add beauty to its divine worship. 

Namirembe Cathedral Choir, for instance, is a popular choral ensemble because of its rich musical tradition, which it inherited from Canterbury Cathedral. The glorious pipe organ at Namirembe also stands out as one of the Cathedral’s unique marvels.

The Anglicans are nonetheless not known to sing certain liturgical prayers. For example, the Holy, Holy (Latin Sanctus), and the Our Father (Latin Pater Noster) which are commonly sung during Catholic divine worship are usually just recited during the Anglican services.

The students of Gayaza High School performing a cultural dance during the liturgical procession for the Confirmation Service at their School recently.

Nevertheless, the case at Gayaza High School is different. The chapel choir sings the prayers that are commonly recited. 

For example, during the Holy Communion Service the Bishop of Namirembe diocese, the Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, presided over during his recent pastoral visit to the school, the students of Gayaza sang both the Holy, Holy (Sanctus) and the Lord’s Prayer, Our Father (Pater Noster). 

And they did not stop at singing, they also accompanied the singing with African drums, an act that marvelled many people. 

Earlier during the liturgical procession, the musical girls of Gayaza also performed traditional gigs as the clergy made their way to the venue of the service. So, are the Gayaza girls making a liturgical revolution? Are they redeeming an old ecclesial tradition?

Andrew Sengendo Zaake, a senior musician of the Anglican Church says singing the Our Father, Holy, Holy and other prayers during the Anglican service is not a new culture. 

He explains that the form of divine liturgy is greatly determined by the kind of training of the respective priest. If the priest was trained in a tradition that emphasizes singing, he/she will pay greater attention to chanting. 

On the other hand, if a priest is a product of the seminary that does not emphasize singing, they will not pay much attention to chanting. 

Zaake acknowledges the fact that today emphasis is mainly put on ecclesial philosophy/doctrine as opposed to singing, which is why chanting certain prayers/repossess in an Anglican Church is seen by some Christians as a liturgical irregularity.

Rev. Engineer Emmanuel Mwesigwa (the reigning chaplain of St. Kakumba Chapel, Kyambogo University) also echoes Zaake’s explanation. 

He says people should not be alarmed when they see certain things in the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church being done in the same way. 

He explains that the Anglican Church was rooted in the Catholic Church and its formation was not necessarily against method but content and authority. 

He also explains that the culture of the people where the Church operates also has an influence on the way things are done. 

Mwesigwa further explains that the Anglican Church has two traditions, that is the High Church of England, which does things in the same way as the Roman Catholic Church and the Low Church which does the same things slightly differently. 

The missionaries who brought the Anglican faith in 1878 had the influence of the Low Church which is why the similarity between the Catholic church and the Anglican Church here is not enormous.