Southwark Cathedral And Jerusalem

EDM number 1348 in 2007-08, proposed by Nicholas Winterton on 21/04/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Church and state, Nationality and Religion and faith communities.

That this House expresses its deep concern that the hymn Jerusalem cannot be sung by choirs or congregations at Southwark Cathedral because senior clergy have deemed that the words do not praise God and are too nationalistic; notes that Jerusalem, with words by William Blake and set to music in 1916 by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, is one of the country's best-loved hymns; recognises the important role played by Jerusalem in the life of the nation; is surprised and saddened that the Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, informed guests at a private memorial service that Jerusalem would not be sung because it was not in the glory of God; calls on senior clergy to reinstate Jerusalem without delay as a welcome and acceptable part of future services in the Diocese of Southwark and elsewhere; and further calls on senior clergy actively to recognise and acknowledge the great traditions of the United Kingdom in celebrating all that is best about the country, its people and its history, not least by reflecting on the decision of the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, to join the Army's Red Devils display team jumping from 12,500 feet to raise £50,000 for the families of soldiers killed and injured in Afghanistan.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs.