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July 15, 2010
The Gospel of Satanic Mills
The Church of England national worship development officer is reportedly encouraging ministers to stop banning "Jerusalem" as un-Christian and ‘too nationalistic’.
Church of England ministers need to be told this?
I feel sick. Literally, physically sick with rage.
Their objections include that the hymn’s opening lines ‘And did those feet in ancient time/Walk upon England’s mountains green’ are inspired by the apocryphal story that a young Jesus visited Glastonbury in Somerset. Donald Allister, now the Bishop of Peterborough, has complained: ‘What it is actually saying is, “Wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus lived in England?” Yet we all know he did not, so it is just nonsense.’
Other ministers have complained that references to bows, arrows and spears are ‘too militaristic’ and not suitable for worship.
The parish church of Parliament, St Margaret’s in Westminster, once refused to allow the hymn because the contrasting of ‘dark satanic mills’ with ‘green and pleasant land’ could alienate city-dwellers.
Other ministers have complained that references to bows, arrows and spears are ‘too militaristic’ and not suitable for worship.
The parish church of Parliament, St Margaret’s in Westminster, once refused to allow the hymn because the contrasting of ‘dark satanic mills’ with ‘green and pleasant land’ could alienate city-dwellers.
We don't need another Thatcher. We need another Cromwell.
I visited Glastonbury and walked in the footsteps of Joseph of Arimathea. As to Christ's lighter tread, He yet walks England's green and pleasant land. But no thanks to the Church of England and their latter day Gospel of Satanic Mills.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 15, 2010 08:24 AM
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