Retaining tradition

Percy from the Pews

Okay, I can envisage some curled lips of derision, accompanied by such comments as “they’re banging on about it again”, but to me, as to many others, it’s why Anglican Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower should give due regard to retaining tradition. It shouldn’t be thrown over for the modern clap-your-hands variety of worshipping. Last Sunday, in South Hobart’s Parish Church of All Saints, we heard (yes, I was there), and saw, a beautiful spiritual presentation of Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, in the liturgical setting. Full house, all appreciative.

On the significance of retaining tradition in the church setting (lost in the case of Holy Trinity’s closure), let me tell you of an example that proves it remains important to Tasmanians.

Okay, I can envisage some curled lips of derision, accompanied by such comments as “they’re banging on about it again”, but to me, as to many others, it’s why Anglican Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower should give due regard to retaining tradition. It shouldn’t be thrown over for the modern clap-your-hands variety of worshipping.

Last Sunday, in South Hobart’s Parish Church of All Saints, we heard (yes, I was there), and saw, a beautiful spiritual presentation of Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, in the liturgical setting. Full house, all appreciative.

There’s a majestic, poignant, solemn beauty in this inspirational work, even so much more embracing when performed in a holy setting. The pure young voices of the Collegiate Singers (under the direction of Anne Morgan) provided a fitting commemoration for All Souls Day.

Now here’s a thing. You can hear it on a CD (yes, Sarah Brightman’s rendition will always be remembered) and you can hear the work in its entirety as just a choir performance. But this occasion, with all the liturgy, transcended.

And here’s another thing. It’s the Latin words that mould the wondrous majesty of this most soul-impacting of religious musical creativity. Yet there are those, I am told, who cannot bear to hear Latin sung in their church.

Having been present earlier in the day at St John’s, New Town, for another service that was in the traditional format (again well-attended and enjoyable), I repeat concerns about why there seems such an eagerness to promote the future of the Anglican Church on (no blasphemy intended) the altar of the modern stripped down and spruced up.