Memorial Service
Barbara Fitzgerald Harvey
CBE, FBA
1928-2025
SCHOLAR 1946-49
FELLOW & TUTOR IN HISTORY 1955-93
VICE PRINCIPAL 1976-79 & 1981-83
FELLOW EMERITUS 1993-2025
Somerville College Chapel, Oxford
Sunday 22nd March 2026 at 2.30 PM
Music before the service, Alfred Kelsey (2023, Music, Organ Scholar): O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (BWV 622), by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Rhosymedre (No. 2 from 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes), by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Please stand for the Hymn
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy: Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe: Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray, Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace: Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm: Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Music: Trad. Irish Words: Jan Struther (1901-53)
Please sit
Welcome
Dr Benjamin Thompson
Liz Cooke Fellow in History and Vice-Principal
Reading
Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 31-35 and 38-39
Dr Philippa Tudor (1975, History)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Anthem
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu, Alleluia. For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little space, Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three, Pari forma. The angels sungen the shepherds to: Gloria in excelsis deo: Gaudeamus
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth, Transeamus.
Anon, Early C15 (Trinity College, Cambridge, MS 0.3.58)
Tribute
Dr Alice Prochaska (1965, History)
Principal (2010-17), Honorary Fellow
Please stand for the Hymn
The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye; My noonday walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend.
When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountain pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary wandering steps he leads, Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in a bare and rugged way
Through devious lonely wilds I stray, Thy bounty shall my pains beguile; The barren wilderness shall smile With sudden greens and herbage crowned, And streams shall murmur all around.
Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, 0 Lord, art with me still: Thy friendly staff shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade.
Music: Henry Carey (c.1687-1743) Words: Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
Please sit
Tribute
Professor John Blair, FSA, FBA
Emeritus Professor of Medieval History and Archaeology
Fellow Emeritus of The Queen’s College
If ye love me
Anthem
Keep my commandments
And I will pray the Father
And he shall give you another comforter That he may 'bide with you forever E’en the spirit of truth
Music: Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
Words: John 14: 15-17
Reading
ODNB entry on Abbot Nicholas Lytlington, by Barbara Harvey Professor Caroline Barron (1959, History)
Tribute
Professor Joanna Innes
Senior Research Fellow, Professor Emeritus of Modern History
Please stand for the Hymn
Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Music: William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868)
Words: Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871)
Reading ‘Virtue Immortal’, by George Herbert (1593-1633) Sarah Wyles (1987, History)
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridall of the earth and skie; The dew shall weep thy fall to-night; For thou must die.
Sweet Rose, whose hue angrie and brave Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, Thy root is ever in its grave, And all must die.
Sweet Spring, full of sweet dayes and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie, Thy musick shows ye have your closes, And all must die.
Onely a sweet and vertuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives; But, though the whole world, turn to coal, Then chiefly lives.
Prayers
Dr William Lamb
Vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Please stand for the Hymn
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
Praise him for his grace and favour
To his people in distress
Praise him, still the same as ever, Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
Fatherlike he tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!
Angels, help us to adore him; You behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him, Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!
Music: J. Goss (1800-80)
Blessing
Dr William Lamb
Words: F. J. Lyte (1793-1847)
Organ Voluntary
Pièce d'Orgue (BWV 572), by J S Bach (1685-1750)
Following the service, all are welcome to tea in Flora Anderson Hall.
Thanks to a generous legacy given by Barbara in support of Medieval History at Somerville, and in recognition of her distinguished career, the College seeks to name a History Fellowship in her honour. Donating to the fund will bring us closer to our goal and allow us to honour Barbara’s enduring passion for medieval history. To discuss making a donation, please speak to Sara Kalim, Development Director (sara kalim@some ox ac uk) or donate directly at https://tinyurl.com/ynpt3aa4