The verses [of the hymn ‘Jerusalem’], 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.
Last week the Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, advised guests at a private memorial service that the hymn would not be sung because it was “not in the glory of God”.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Southwark disclosed that the Dean had not allowed the verses to be sung during services for some time.
“The Dean, on common with all other cathedral deans, has the authority to decide what material is used in liturgy in the cathedral,” he said.
Read it all and there is more food for thought on this here.
I looked up the words at [url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/r/jerusalem.htm]CyberHymnal[/url]:
[blockquote]And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.[/blockquote]
I’m rather inclined to agree that this isn’t truly a hymn. Taped to my monitor is the following quote, from [url=http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801148.htm]St. Augustine of Hippo[/url]:
[blockquote]Know ye what an hymn is? It is a song with praise of God. If you praise God and singest not, you utter no hymn: if you sing and praisest not God, you utter no hymn: if you praise anything else, which pertains not to the praise of God, although you sing and praisest, you utter no hymn. An hymn then contains these three things, song, and praise, and that of God. Praise then of God in song is called an hymn.[/blockquote]
That song always confused the heck out of me, because the answer to all the questions posed in the first verse appeared to be a straightforward “No.”
Then one day I found out that there’s a story that Joseph of Arimathea took the teenaged Jesus on some of his trading trips, and on one of those trips they made it as far as (what would be) England. It still seems like kind of an odd story to hang one’s hat on, but at least the song makes more sense now.
People,
The Joseph of Arimathea “myth” is the “founding myth” of Anglicanism. Note that Blake (who is among my favorite Christian Poets-See Tiger Tiger Burning Bright and Little Lamb Who Made Thee) did not state that the myth was true. He does state USING BIBLICAL images (Chariot’s of Fire-from the Old Testament). It also calls for people not to stop until “We have built Jerusalem” i.e. Spread the Gospel!!!.
Compared to many “Hymns” (not to mention the awful “praise choruses” around, Jerusalem is downright Biblical!!!
And WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH NATIONALISM??? God was the God of the Israelites (a nation). We (the Church) are the New Jerusalem. We Anglicans (i.e. CHRISTIANS with an English Heritage) should be able to sing about God and England. We in the US sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic and America the Beautiful. (Granted not that much-GRIN). But something which is VERY COMMON in Traditional Anglican Worship (1928) is the singing of “My Country Tis of Thee-or at least some verses) during Morning/Evening Prayer and sometimes at Holy Communion.
Isn’t the suggestion that we “build” Jerusalem, without serious qualification, simply false. At the very least it is deceptive in that, it puts the theological weight in the wrong place.
Jesus talks about receiving the kingdom, entering the kingdom, inheriting the kingdom, proclaiming the kingdom and so forth but “building” – in the sense of achieving it – it is surely something only God can do. It isn’t us who build the uniting of heaven and earth.
Wow. Very good points from Southwark. How nice it is to hear that the liturgy is supposed to be for the glory of God and not the flag of our country.
I have no problems with nationalism when it is kept in its box. By all means sing these songs at sporting events or political conventions. They might lend some dignity to the event.
But in church, in worship, we stand before Christ as one people from every tribe, tongue and nation. Let us sing songs, hymns and psalms to the One who makes us one and removes every barrier dividing us.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land”
——-
The poem is full of esoteric references that have mostly dropped out of Christian thought, prayer and meditation.
The golden bow, the arrows, the spear(!!!), the clouds, and the chariot all have very specific meanings.
“Building the new Jerusalem” is a concept from the Western Mysteries. Each individual Christian must be a builder (by mental fight) of the internal Temple and internal Jerusalem amid the “satanic mills” of our hearts and minds, so that Christ will be born in us, come to that New Jerusalem, cleanse the Temple, etc.
It’s a great hymn, unless it’s taken literally. I’d guess that Parry knew exactly what it meant. His music suggests so, and no other set of words seems to fit well.
#6 Even that seems wrong – even if we allegorise the New Jerusalem and refer it to the reconstitution of our identitites in Christ – it is not our work – is it?
If Blake’s intention matters, his repudiation of the terrible effects of industrialization and is rather well known, isn’t it. So it is hard to think that it is entirely about matters internal to the soul. (More likely it is about both the spiritual life – and given Blake’s heterodoxy, we might look for things that connect to Swedenborgiann mysticism, especially Swedenborgian use of the symbol of New Jerusalem – and about real mills and Blake’s powerful critque of them.
I don’t know that I’d want to sing this in church, but I’ve always liked Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s version of it.
Having read all that’s been posted here, plus the Daily Telegraph article, I can only say, political correctness has again got out of hand. By the time “they” have excluded hyms that are too nationalistic, too gender specific, too exclusionary, too militaristic, or too distressing for modern sensiblities, there will be nothing left to sing!!!
To the Dean of Southwark I say, “Colin lad, tha’s a reet wazzock, gerron wi’ real job, an’ stop faffin wi’ nonsense”
Mayhap I should translate that last sentence for those not from God’s Own County (Yorkshire).
Colin, my friend, you are acting foolishly. Concern yourself with weighter matters, and desist from this nonsense.
In England, of course, Blake’s poem became popular more than a century after its composition when allied to Parry’s stirring tune at the end of World War I. It was, ironically for the self aware radical that the Very Rev’d Slee is, first used not in church, nor in support of “the Nation”, but in meetings campaigning for women’s right to vote.
Kind of makes you want to burst out in a rousing chorus of “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” doesn’t it?
Let me nuance what I wrote above – Jerusalem was used first by the Fight for Right Movement – an implausible collection of military and civilians, academics and clerics, poets and politicians (including Evelyn Underhill and the future ABC, William Temple) who [url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3U1KrRx3rl8C&pg=PA224&dq=fight+for+right+movement+queen's+hall&lr;=&client=firefox-a#PPP4,M1] campaigned[/url] during the World War I to uphold the values for which they saw Britain fighting. It was quickly taken up and used in the campaign for women’s suffrage and became in the 1920s the official anthem of the Women’s Institute.
I had understood that Jerusalem is often called the “Socialists Hymn.” It’s a metaphoric poem, filled with Blake’s powerful apocalyptic imagery, masterfully tying together England’s mythological past with the coming of the New Jerusalem – a “New” England. The questions are rhetorical (as the entire Star Spangled Banner is a rhetorical question), illustrating that England is a God-chosen land, favored (which is very deep in English literature). For Christian Socialists, the utopian ideal saw that it was possible to build the New Jerusalem here and now and this was a rallying cry that it should be built in England, filled with passion and purpose.
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant Land.
It views the capitalistic form of society as nothing less than evil incarnate, metaphorically calling the industrial revolution “those dark satanic mills” that enslaved poor women and children. For them, Blake’s spiritual vision gave way to a political vision, the imagery fueling that vision. Many of England’s greatest poets and writers and politicians were inspired by that utopian vision.
It’s fascinating that it’s seen here as a nationalistic hymn, perhaps like My Country Tis of Thee, which is positively tame compared to this. But it’s history is on the Left – not what is often thought of as a nationalistic Right and how ironic it is that Colin See should be the one to ban it.
bb
Interestingly, Parry (the composer), was so troubled by the patriotic “Fight for Right’ Movement that he formally withdrew his support in 1917.
FWIW, in Blake’s terms, the New Jerusalem, occurs by radically transforming material existence into the purely spiritual and by destroying Newtonian reason and replacing it with poetic Inspiration (Blake: Milton)
Whether those who sing Jerusalem are aware of the heterodox intentions behind Blake’s poem is surely to be doubted. Whether a poem that is intended to be thoroughly heretical should be used in Christian worship, is, in my view, open to doubt – not because it is nationalistic but because it is heresy.
Well, on a quick read of the full article, it seems to me that the theology of this hymn or “hymn” depending on your outlook, fits perfectly with This Woman’s [Schoria & Co] Church we now have in the TEC:
[blockquote] His Jesus was a prototype hippy freedom fighter, with God the father as a distant, dark presence. His writing, and the thoughts underlying it, are wilfully ambiguous; notice how the first verse of Jerusalem is composed entirely of questions?[/blockquote]
Verses composed entirely of questions sound like a chapter from any Spong book to me. Just sing the song and enjoy it.
But we come back to the story of Christ’s visit during “the unknown years” (after the Temple in Jerusalem at age 12 and before the baptism at about age 30). The idea that Christ visited the British Isles is one of the bases for the “uniqueness” (I know, that’s not a real word-I think) of England over against France,Spain, Italy, Germany etc. The Church in England (with it’s good and bad) has been responsible for much of the non-Roman evangelism around the world. (Society for the Propogation of the Gospel, Moravian Missions, the spread of the Gospel along with the empire.)
The “socialism” stuff is another thing. I like the song due to its referance to “the founding myth” of the Church IN England. (As opposed to the Church OF England-a particlular part thereof.)
#5, MikeS, I agree wholeheartedly. When we enter church we enter another realm. God’s realm. Not America’s, not England’s, not any country’s but a foretaste of the Kingdom. I don’t allow the American flag to be processed (as I have seen at the National Cathedral — and found it quite out of place, unless it is for the funeral of a national figure [maybe]), we do not sing the national anthem (we do sing America the Beautiful, since it truly sings of God’s magnificent creation).
When an English priest-friend was visiting, though, we did bring out Hymn 597, which uses Parry’s stirring music but as a prayer to God: “…the hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord.” My friend was moved to tears. So was I.
Then again, at a private memorial service… perhaps, for pastoral reasons, it [i]could[/i] be used. But I’d really have to reflect and pray about it before giving approval.
Note the points Blake seems to be making:
-1- Jesus wasn’t English. Let’s not foolishly try to tame Him, as though He were just one of us.
-2- The Industrial Revolution (“these dark satanic mills”) is problematic. Ruthless capitalist modernization is problematic.
-3- Let’s strive to build a new Jerusalem here, a just and righteous place that honors and glorifies God.
You would think at any objections to these statements would come from the CONSERVATIVE end of the cultural and theological spectrum:
— Nationalists and civil religionists would regard #1 as a gratuitous swipe.
— Free marketers would regard #2 as a really nasty dig at capitalism.
— And #3 has Social Gospel written all over it.
If Slee took time to THINK about the lyrics—instead of reacting to their cultural associations—he might like them.
#17 1. Medieval fable is not usually taken as evidence for events in the life of the historical Jesus
2. The Legends may not be quite as “English” as they now seem. In the Middle Ages they were used to suggest an apostolic (or perhaps even dominical) origin to monasticism at Glastonbury.
3. In our own time, the principal non-Roman evangelists have been indigenous pentecostals.
The answer to verse one is NO HE DIDN’T!
The answer to verse two is GO AND GET IT YOURSELF LAZY!
I love the tune and it does no harm. Strange how Slee defends rigid orthodoxy on this qubbling hymn but on very little else!
I must say it also inspired my college gentleman’s/rugby club drinking song (not for the politically correct!) Obviously this was sung during my wild youth which I in no way encourage today…we were known as the ‘Blaggards’ and were terribly immature. But the article brought back memories!!
And did those blags in recent time
Walk upon Cambridge quods so green
And was the holy blaggard’s crest
A p***s and a pint pot seen
And did the president divine
Call upon all the Blaggards there
To raise their glass and drink their fill
Including C H Under Bear (our mascot)
Bring me my beer – my keg of beer
Bring me my wine that tastes so fine
Bring me my tie – blue silver and pink
I’ll keep on drinking after time
I shall not cease from quaffing ale
Nor shall my glass sllep in my hand
Till we have drunk this city dry
The Blaggard’s never shall dispand!
Ah, dear old Colin Slee – the man who calls evangelical Anglicans in his diocese ‘the Taliban’ and who filled his cathderal 10 or 12 years ago with a big, rainbow-festooned celebration of the ‘Lesbian and Gay Christians Movement” – now striking a blow for orthodoxy!
Yes, this will really reverse the remorseless decline.
Of course ‘Jerusalem’ isn’t a Christian hymn to the Glory of God – any more than is the British National Anthem ‘God Save the Queen/King’, which is regularly sung in Colin Slee’s cathedral (minus – I trust – the second verse calling down imprecations on the treacherous Scots and their ‘knavish tricks’).
#20. Amen, two or three times over.
Talk about a tempest in a teapot! A reet wazzock indeed! (Great phrase there. Love it.) Larry
Aside from the myth of Christ having visited England, why are the sentiments in this hymn any different from the Shining City on a Hill dream of the original colonists on this end of the pond? I heard this song for the first time about a decade ago on BBC’s Sunday program “Hymns of Praise” during a trip to the UK and was profoundly moved. About a week later, I saw on TV the revellers at the last night of the Proms belt it out. I am for nything that continues to tie secular Britain back to its Christian roots.
By the way, the Irish choral group Anúna, has an interesting variation on the tune of [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nTfx-3xDkw]Jerusalem[/u], performed in an ancient Scots style of contrasting (rather than blending) harmonies. When I first heard it on disk, it was very confusing, but when I saw it live it was absolutely beautiful. The link above is a taped performance which doesn’t quite carry the impact of a live show, but it comes close.
oops, that link didn’t quite work, now did it? I could have sworn I put the closing tag on it.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nTfx-3xDkw]Anúna’s Jerusalem[/url]
But anyway, it turns out that the lyrics are NOT the same as we’ve been discussing:
Lyrics:
Chorus (after each verse):
Jerusalem, our happy home
When shall we come to thee?
When shall our sorrows have an end?
Thy joys when shall we see?
They see no one that sent her there
Their palms spring from the ground
No tongue can tell, no heart can think
What joys do there abound
Forever more the trees perfumed
And ever more they spring
And ever more the saints are glad
And ever more they sing
Fair Magdalene, she hath less moan
Likewise there she doth sing
The happy saints in harmony
Through every street doth ring
Fair Magdalene hath dried her tears
She’ll weep no more to thee
Nor wet the ringlets of her hair
To wash her savior’s feet
That is really awesome, LibraryJim! And good catch — it’s not the same. It’s not even the same tune, actually. “Jerusalem” is both the name of the English almost-anthem-hymn [i]and[/i] the name of the [i]tune[/i] by Parry. In the Hymnal 1982 (#597), therefore, the hymn name is “O day of peace that dimly shines,” while the tune name is still “Jerusalem.”
But nevertheless — this particular style of harmony is totally arresting. I must hear more of them. iTunes here I come!
Eastertide blessings! Thanks for pointing us to Anuna!
I’m glad you like them, PW, I had the opportunity to see them live a few years ago, and was able to go backstage after to meet Michael and John McGlynn, the founders of the group.
They took a poster i brought with me and passed it around for the group to sign for me. 🙂
Really, if they ever come to your part of the world, you definately need to go experience them in concert!
Failing that, they have a live DVD that they put out for PBS earlier this year, it should be out at Border’s now.
Enjoy!
Jim
Well, I went onto iTunes and downloaded seven pieces. Good grief! Gorgeous stuff!!
Thanks again. And — isn’t is refreshing to have such a friendly conversation? I mean — reappraiser-reasserter that we are? and in the Comment section of T19?!? Yikes, what is this world [i]coming[/] to?!? 🙂
Blessings.[/i]
LOL 😉
That’s enough, you two. Put your gloves back on.
Follow this link for an outstanding article that made me want to applaud!! Most of you will love it!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/04/11/do1102.xml