Onward, Christian Soldiers is banned by vicar ... in case it offends other religions
IT HAS been sung at their Remembrance Day service for at least half a century.
So Royal British Legion members in one area were shocked when the hymn Onward, Christian Soldiers was ditched by their new vicar – in case it offends worshippers of other faiths.
The decision has prompted some members to boycott the service, which will now feature All People That On Earth Do Dwell instead. Veterans in the Oadby area of Leicester have been backed by non-Christian members of the Legion who have been left puzzled by the move.
Members had already suffered a setback when their annual parade route from St Peter’s Church through the town and back was cut in half.
Police told organisers they cannot spare the officers to marshal the traditional march next month.
Now Pete Green, a committee member of the Oadby RBL branch, said he will ‘refuse to step foot in the church’ in protest at Reverend Steve Bailey’s ban on Onward, Christian Soldiers.
‘I have been going to this service ever since I joined the Legion in 1967 and that hymn has always been sung,’ he said.
‘We have many different religions within our 400 members here and no one has ever complained to me about it. The new vicar has created a lot of ill-feeling with this.
‘The whole thing is a farce – the police have let us down and now the service has been changed.’
Ramanlal Anand, 77, a Hindu member of the Legion, said he was ‘shocked’ at the axing of the 19th century hymn.
‘I couldn’t understand it,’ he added. ‘I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with it.’
Yesterday a source at the Church of England parish insisted that Onward, Christian Soldiers was ‘inappropriate’.
The insider said the order of service was changed to reflect the town’s multicultural population.
Traditionally, Legion members have their parade then enter the church to the hymn for the service before laying wreaths at the adjacent war memorial.
Ian Thorpe, 61, vice-chairman of the Legion club, which is next to St Peter’s, said the hymn was dropped ‘because not everyone at the service will be Christians – it’s not the “soldiers” bit, it’s the “Christian” bit’.
He added: ‘It’s all down to the fact they don’t want to offend other faiths like Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. It’s been sung by the Legion since 1921 and it’s been part of the service here since at least 1967.
‘We’re a multi-cultural town and proud of it but this is tradition and to change that out of fear of offending someone is ridiculous.’
In 2012, another newly appointed vicar tried to bar Onward, Christian Soldiers but backtracked after a similar uproar.
In a statement issued by the
‘All faiths paying respect’
Diocese of Leicester, Rev Bailey defended the latest attempt to ban the hymn.
‘ This year for the first time Oadby Multicultural Group will be laying a wreath as well as the one I will lay on behalf of the parish,’ he said.
‘We want people of all faiths paying respect to those from their own faiths and cultures who served and gave their lives to feel welcome in the service.’
Leicestershire Police said the local authority was responsible for managing traffic for events.