The Bishop of Peterborough, m his recent primary charge said: — "The time has come for the Church of England to get out of the valleys on to the heights, to survey the whole landscape of devotion, and to make her choice from the treasures of devotional life m all the centuries, always applying the unfailing touchstone which -will show which is the true gold, namely, the spirit of the New Testament and the standard of the undivided Church.... The problem of the restoration of worship, to' its place m the life of the people is ultimately the problem of
the renewal of the'ii*. spiritual- ideals, the re-thinking of life's, every activity as ari offering .to- Godf. We ought to make our- worship so .impressive, so appealing to eye, and ear, that men may be constrained to the consecration of their best to God. ' ' Worshippers must ask, no t,~ ' Does this help or hinder my individual devotion, but, If' there come m one unbelieviiig or .linlearnedy would it rer veal Almighty God to. him' and "make manifest the secrets of his heart ? ' ' The clergy should be careful of the dignity 'even of attire and appearance. The congregation should realise and manifest -their corporate responsibility as God's family' circle assembled m "■ their spiritual home. Church music should be solemn and movingy virile; and powerful, sweet yet emancipated from the sugary sentimentality of the nineteenth century, and, if not a return, to " some .of those fine arrangements of the ' old Plainsong m which everything is subordinated to the words,'' should no longer display an ignorant neglect of the grave and melodious treasures of Tudor and Stuart harmony, or of magnificent locally traditional hymn tunes, such as the Welsh and folk melodies of all nations. At the same time the Bishop commends the new school of composition, and speaks of the debt which is owed to the compilers of the "English Hyriinal. " All music should be a breath from God the Holy Ghost.
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Bibliographic details
Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 430
Word Count
329Untitled Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 430
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