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Cathedral bans Jerusalem because hymn 'fails to glorify god'
Last updated at 15:52pm on 10.04.08
But Jerusalem - Gordon Brown's favourite hymn - has been ditched by one of the country's grandest churches.
Senior clergy at Southwark Cathedral in London have ruled that the hymn, which boasts poetry by William Blake and music by Sir Hubert Parry, is "not to the glory of God" and have banned its use in most services.
It follows a similar decision by other churches, who claim the hymn is "un-Christian" and its bows, arrows, spears and swords "too military in tone".
Although the Church of England's official line says Jerusalem has a "rightful place" in worship, Southwark's Dean, the Very Reverend Colin Slee, refused to allow it to be used in a memorial service last week.
A spokesman for the cathedral said: "The Dean, in common with all other cathedral deans, has the authority to decide what material is used in liturgy in the cathedral.
"The hymn Jerusalem is often used on national occasions, although rarely in Southwark, even on such occasions.
"The Dean of Southwark does not believe it is to the glory of God and it is not therefore used in private memorial services."
In recent years, various reasons have been given for banning the hymn, which was composed in 1916.
During the 1990s, St Paul's Cathedral refused permission for it to be used although the church has now relented.
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Banned: Jerusalem will not be sung by choirs at Southwark Catherdral (file picture)
St Margaret's in Westminster - the parish church of Parliament - once refused to allow it to be sung at a memorial service because the church's clergy considered the contrast between the dark satanic mills and England's green and pleasant land discriminated against city-dwellers.
Vicars have also claimed it is "too nationalistic" - a reason cited by a Manchester cleric who told a couple they could not have it at their wedding in 2001.
The same objection has also been regularly used against another much-loved Anglican favourite, I Vow to Thee, My Country.
A Church of England spokesman said: "Jerusalem is a widely-loved hymn.
"It is firmly fixed in generations of hymn books and has its rightful place in Church of England worship.
"It is always important when arranging funerals or memorial services to discuss with the priest which hymns are appropriate."
Three years ago, Gordon Brown picked Jerusalem as his favourite hymn during a poll on BBC1's Songs of Praise.
Reader views (3)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Surely this is political correctness gone mad!
- Raoul, London, UK
Faith is no ALL about God, it is about faith in one's country and community too and that is exactly what both Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country are about. The church needs to re-establish it's place as the heart of the community if it is to attract new members and keep the old. Our local church has become the hub of our community through youth clubs, language lessons for children, toddlers days and many children's services that aim to teach the values of friendship and truth. Worshiping God has many forms, almost all of them are found in good honest living rather than singing songs praising Him.
- Jane Bewick, London N21
The poem 'Jerusalem' was written by William Blake to be pro-Christianity but anti-established church (ie, CofE) - so it is ironic that they used it as a hymn in the first place! 'Jerusalem' is used as a term for the 'perfect land' throughout his poetry ('London' was all things bad), hence the speaker of the poem is incredulous that, in the industrialised landscape of England, Christ can be found - and therefore seeks divine inspiration to build the perfect land in England.
So it is perhaps the most mis-understood hymn in the book: just because it has the word 'England' people think it is patriotic/nationalistic (2 sides of the same coin), whereas in fact Blake was trying to state how much room there was for improvement. As he was anti-established church, it is fitting they should reject it as a hymn!
I had it at my Blessing: the CofE wouldn't actually marry us as my other half was divorced and we lived abroad . . . they could cope with one of those, but not both combined. Blake was right!
- Roz, Chamonix, France
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