The Church of England's sidelining of old hymns is cultural vandalism, says Christopher Ohlson
Saturday March 10, 2007
The Guardian

The rector of St James's Piccadilly made, as Hercule Poirot used to say of the murderer, a fatal mistake at a recent Sunday service. He forewarned us: "Some of you may be unfamiliar with the hymns today." Most of the congregation muttered amen. After the service I told the organist I hadn't recognised a hymn for five years. He admitted that it had taken him 20 minutes to find the music.

Favourite old hymns seem to have disappeared from the repertoire. Traditional Anglicans go to church for the King James Bible, the old hymns and the architecture. The Bible and the hymns have disappeared, which leaves only the great cathedrals. There are no doubt plans to raze St Paul's and replace it with a sports cafe. Soccer zombies will be able to watch 24-hour coverage of the new religion.

Typical of the hymns currently on offer was one sung during the offertory. "Mysteries of celebrating, realise the promised state; with the desperate receiving, we in life participate." Wisely, the author of this vapid doggerel never revealed his identity to a wider world. the rest