Singing the praises for former MEP
WELL, bless my soul! A former Midland Euro MP has been revealed as the inspiration behind a popular Methodist hymn.
David Hallam, who represented Shropshire, Herefordshire and Wyre Forest for Labour for several years in the 1990s, is the unlikely influence behind the hymn called Every Day in Every Place.
Written by Martin Leckebusch in 1994 as Mr Hallam, from Smethwick, was setting off for Brussels, it is now sung by churchgoers throughout the world.
Mr Hallam said he had been surprised by the revelation.
Mr Leckebusch, who has written some 500 hymns, said at the time he put pen to paper, he was living in Birmingham and worshipping at City Road Methodist Church where Mr Hallam was also a member.
“David was elected to serve in the European parliament, which inevitably caused great excitement for all his friends,” he recalled.
“I’d been writing hymn texts for around seven years by that time and as I thought of David’s election and the challenges it would give him, I was inspired to write words for a new hymn.
“I’m not aware of any other hymns inspired by the work of political leaders in the European Parliament.
“I tried to capture the way in which God takes our very varied gifts and abilities and calls us to many different spheres of service – but all of them are valid and valuable.”
The hymn is now number 660 in the Singing The Faith hymn book.
Mr Hallam said: “Martin Leckebusch is a brilliant hymn- writer. He already has 500 hymns to his credit. I was surprised, even shocked, when he told me of this link two years ago. “I feel his words sum up many of the challenges faced by anyone in political and public life. It will be sung for
many years by people struggling with their faith and politics.”
The hymn can be sung to several tunes including Strawmills, Hyfrydol, Ode to Joy and Bethany. Mr Hallam continues to live in Smethwick and worship at City Road church, while Mr Leckebusch moved to Gloucester with his family and now worships at Kendal Road Baptist Church in Longlevens.