Britannist

Mikeuk

Typical arrogance from overbearing left-wing clergy.

Having said that, there are valid theological objections to the text of the poem (it really isn't a 'hymn') and its highly-controversial author.

Even if the ghastly Windsors were ever removed, assassinated etc our national anthem should remain unchanged.

rjt

I am glad my priest is anti PC.

__________________
Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO!
(Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990)

Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

John Cooper

Is it a Christian song ? I like it but it is not really that Christian in my opinion.

Britannist

There is more about this on the excellent 'Holy Smoke' Telegraph blog where the Dean of Southwark Cathedral is accused of alleged political correctness on this matter:

The folly of Dean Slee : April 2008 : Holy Smoke : UK : Telegraph Blogs

Mikeuk

It was a mystical poem by William Blake, who was hardly a conventional Christian, but who, I suppose, admired the character of Jesus.

The idea that Christ visited England with his uncle Joseph of Arimathea is purely a folk legend, albeit a charming one. Hubert Parry set the poem to music during WW1 for some patriotic rally and it was soon afterwards adopted by the WI as their 'theme tune'

I've always regarded it as a sort of vaguely religious, vaguely patriotic end-of-term school song and totally unsuited to weddings. I suppose people choose it these days because they don't know any genuine hymns.

It was printed in the popular hymnbook 'Songs of Praise' which we used to use at school. I very much doubt that it is in Hymns A & M.

brian pearson

Imagine that Mike. Buck house at auction. Coat of paint and some decking then flip it for a quick profit.

cassie

People choose it these days because they want an anthem for England, an English anthem! National anthems are sung in church!

The Irish, Scots and Welsh each have their national anthems, whilst England and the English have GSTQ imposed on us! By all means use GSTQ when a British team or Britain as such is involved, but the English are entitled to no less consideration than others in the UK.

Jerusalem has been widely adopted as an unofficial English national anthem, and the action of the clergy in Southwark Cathedral will inevitably be seen as a rejection of England and the English as a nation, regardless of the work's merits or demerits as a piece of music. Once again, the Church of England has demonstrated a remarkable lack of sensitivity about the indigenous community. The logic now is: if you don't acknowledge the English in the Southwark Diocese, why should the English acknowledge you?

Can you imagine the clergy in any similar cathedral in Scotland daring or being so stupid had (for example) Flower of Scotland become part of their church tradition? Anyone would think that the Church of England was vibrant and flourishing throughout England!

____________________________________________

rjt

We always sing it on the nearest Sunday to St Georges Day and on Rememberance Sunday and it is very popular with couples getting married as is I vow to thee my country.

It is number 31 in Hymms Old and New and is 500 and something in A&M

__________________
Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO!
(Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990)

Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

BonnieDundee

I can understand the Christian objections to it. It is not really a praise of god and in fact is in fact a little too earthly.
I personally prefer latin.

__________________
"It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday facilitate a police state."
-Bruce Schneier

How to Overthrow the System: brew your own beer; kick in your TV; build your own cabin and p*ss off front porch whenever you bloody well feel like it.
Edward Abbey

Leopold Kohr.