Last Updated: Thursday, 12 August, 2004, 10:09 GMT 11:09 UK BBC NEWS

Call to ban 'nationalistic' hymn


The Bishop said Christians are loyal to God above their country
An Anglican bishop wants to ban the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country - because it echoes Hitler's Germany and is "heretical".
The Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, attacked English nationalism in a diocese newsletter.

He compares the hymn - which was sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales - with right-wing attitudes.

Bishop Lowe said he would not sing it as Christians' responsibilities lay with God.


He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday: "It actually says we're going to support my country whatever it says, entire and whole and perfect, the love unquestioned, which is in that first verse of the hymn, right or wrong.

The first verse of I Vow To Thee My Country
I vow to thee my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

"That, I'm afraid, is actually heretical because it actually says that my country's approach to things must be my first call on myself and that my relationship with God or what I believe to be right or wrong is secondary to that.

"Honestly, nobody can really, if they read that hymn, sing it in any seriousness anymore."

He added he was raising the issue in the wider context of the "vilification" of foreigners in the media and had noticed it was being sung at "various national occasions".

He said: "It's saying my country right or wrong. I don't think anybody could actually say they could adopt an approach whereby they said they would not ask any questions of their government and their policies and so on.

"The government under the Queen in this country is actually the representation of this country and it has all the... echoes of 1930s nationalism in Germany and some of the nastier aspects of right wing republicanism in the United States."

The hymn was written by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice in 1918 and is set to music from Gustav Holst's The Planets.

A version was adapted as the anthem for the Rugby World Cup.





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"It has all the... echoes of 1930s nationalism in Germany"





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SEE ALSO:
Vicar defends hymn ban
09 Aug 01 | UK
Hymns ban strikes sour note
08 Aug 01 | UK



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Excellent post. If this doesnt demonstrate the absolute dichotomy of christianity to nationalism then what does?
The first thing that we need to do in the coming Fourth Reich is round up all the known christians and give them the option of performing the Aryan salute or facing the lions. If they wish for martyrdom then by Wotan we will give it to them willingly!

Excellent post. If this doesnt demonstrate the absolute dichotomy of christianity to nationalism then what does?
The first thing that we need to do in the coming Fourth Reich is round up all the known christians and give them the option of performing the Aryan salute or facing the lions. If they wish for martyrdom then by Wotan we will give it to them willingly!

Nice post Aryan Lord.... I agree. These marxist pulpitists should stick to spreading the Lords word not getting involved in politics.

Nice post Aryan Lord.... I agree. These marxist pulpitists should stick to spreading the Lords word not getting involved in politics.

Thank you! I like your triskelion avatar. Not dissmiliar to the flag of the Isle of Man.

Excellent post. If this doesnt demonstrate the absolute dichotomy of christianity to nationalism then what does?
The first thing that we need to do in the coming Fourth Reich is round up all the known christians and give them the option of performing the Aryan salute or facing the lions. If they wish for martyrdom then by Wotan we will give it to them willingly!

the Aryan salute is none other than the ROMAN salute and it is given periodically by the congregations at Catholic masses, sometimes baptisms I think, or in a sort of joint blessing type ceremony. I've even been in Prot churches when its done. Who can object to this noble benificent gesture? Only a Jew or jewlackey, in my mind.

The sorry thing is that an American Christian has no big deal about raising their right hand in blessing, but usually Germans or other continenentals look like they're crippled and cant hoist their arm past their waistband. Some Flemings I used to know around here were "uncomfortable" with this gesture which was often used in one particular parish around town. I gather this gesture is illegal in contemporary Germany. How German of the Germans to ban a gesture, ironic no? LOL

the Aryan salute is none other than the ROMAN salute and it is given periodically by the congregations at Catholic masses, sometimes baptisms I think, or in a sort of joint blessing type ceremony. I've even been in Prot churches when its done. Who can object to this noble benificent gesture? Only a Jew or jewlackey, in my mind.

The whole subject of the Aryan/Roman/German salute deserves a thread of its own. It would be interesting if somebody could do some research on this. I think it was done on Stormfront but it didnt get very far.

The sorry thing is that an American Christian has no big deal about raising their right hand in blessing, but usually Germans or other continenentals look like they're crippled and cant hoist their arm past their waistband. Some Flemings I used to know around here were "uncomfortable" with this gesture which was often used in one particular parish around town. I gather this gesture is illegal in contemporary Germany. How German of the Germans to ban a gesture, ironic no? LOL

Yes indeed, it is illegal in Germany and Austria. I have the dubious honour of performing the Aryan salute on the top of the podium at the Zeppelinwiese in Nuernberg! Right at the place where Hitler stood!

Yes indeed, it is illegal in Germany and Austria. I have the dubious honour of performing the Aryan salute on the top of the podium at the Zeppelinwiese in Nuernberg! Right at the place where Hitler stood!
That must of been an experience, standing in exactly the same place as Hitler did when he addressed the rallies.