Was there ever a difference between physical violence and verbal violence? I somehow doubt that there ever was. War is seldom far away in the repertoire of the faithful, and whilst it may be entirely commendable that some are prepared to die for their faith, it is perhaps less commendable that others are quite prepared to allow others to die on their behalf. I hesitate to suggest that these are the wolves in sheeps clothing sheep never being quite so drab or malicious in my experience. The spawn of that seed is still at work to-day, busily "conserving" all that is good, by creating schism and by "sending out messages" to those who disagree with them. These people, we must recall, were the same ones who took us down the cul-de-sac of modern-day puritanism, on the pretext that they alone knew God's will and testament. The delightful Dr David Jenkins was castigated for his views on almost everything, by that mean-minded body of churchfolk who laughingly describe themselves as "conservatives". It wasn't long ago in the process of evolution, that a certain liberal academic was consecrated as Bishop of Durham in York Minster. In a world full of poe-faced prelates, who often take themselves far too seriously, the "War march of the priests" seems to me to be the perfect foil to their absurdity. Were they being encouraged musically to go back to their parishes and cause trouble? - certainly not what their excellent diocesan bishop was telling them.ĭo any members - particuarly those with what one might call feet in both camps - have any particular feelings about the choice of this piece? Do any members have any anecdotes about voluntaries at other services which have been totally inappropriate? (The bishop lost no opportunity to mention the local football team's place in the Premiership League.) Whilst I have to admit ignorance of what the priests in Mendelssohn's piece were actually warring and marching about - and it could have been a very laudable cause for all I know - I did just wonder whether it was sending out the right message to eight new priests at the start of their sacerdotal ministry, especially as the service had been all about higher matters than war. This morning, in the cathedral of a neighbouring diocese, I attended the ordination to the pristhood of one of my former choristers/organ students and this Mendelssohn piece was played at the end whlst the Bishop was encouraging us all to applaud and cheer the newly ordained.
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