From Trinity Sunday (June 15, 2025) the trial of a new liturgical psalter will be available to Australian Anglicna churches. This initiative, developed by Rev’d Assoc Prof Matthew Anstey, aims to bring a fresh, contemporary translation of the Psalms into Australian Anglican worship.
The Most Rev’d Geoff Smith, Primate of Australia has said:
“For millennia, the Psalms have provided a rich resource for worshippers of God to come to God in times of joy, sadness, thanksgiving and doubt. The Psalms occupy a special place in Anglican liturgy and are featured in our lectionary every day of the year. Matthew Anstey’s translation allows today’s worshippers to encounter the Psalms in contemporary language.”.
The Anstey Psalter draws on the latest scholarship and contextualizes the psalms for modern worship, providing versions suitable for both reading and singing. In addition to the translations, the project includes musical compositions by Becky Llewellyn and Richard Black, with settings for Anglican chant, Gregorian chant, and responsorial psalms.
Trial participants will have access to both the psalms and accompanying musical scores, with the opportunity to provide feedback via an online survey.
The Primate, the Most Rev’d Geoff Smith, has endorsed the trial, encouraging parishes to incorporate this new psalter into their worship.
More details, including how to register, can be found on the project’s website: www.ansteypsalter.com.