Jerusalem, one of the country\’s best-loved hymns and the favourite of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has been banned from services at one of Britain\’s foremost churches.
The verses, which were written by William Blake more than two centuries ago, cannot be sung by choirs or congregations at Southwark Cathedral because the words do not praise God and are too nationalistic, according to senior clergy.
No, really, quite wonderful!
It\’s nationalistic, check, it\’s not religious, so any Englishman, of whatever religion, can sing it with gusto.
So we can make it he English national anthem, no problems!
Pretty ignorant Telegraph piece… They really ought to know that “dark satanic mills” is a reference to universities not factories, for a start.
Definitely not secular. Rooted in a bizarre Christian myth.
I’ll pass.
Once again, the Church scores a magnificent own goal.
The “senior clergy” keep making the same mistake, and never learn from it. They look out over their elderly, hideously white, middle class traditionalist congregations and wish their churches were filled with vibrant, diverse young hoodies instead.
So they trash the liturgy that drew in the worshippers, lose their congregations, and no-one turns up on Sunday morning to replace them.
So another church closes its doors for the last time.
And a swarm of vibrant, diverse young hoodies arrive- and steal the lead of the church roof.
It is a hymn. It is in the CofE hymnal. It is in the Catholic hymnal. Being a hymn it is a religious song. It mentions God. Ergo it ain’t a secular song. So banning it as not being religious is another stupid pronouncement by the Bishop of Southwark.
Nothing wrong with praining England. God is of course an Englishman. Surely everyone knows this?