Hymn of the Week: “O God of Earth and Altar”
Text: G. K Chesterton (1874-1936)
Tune: King’s Lynn, English melody, adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Various versions: Church version, Folk version , Iron Maiden, Heavy Metal version [Note the cover art, appropriate to Halloween, coming up any day now!]
The ageless appeal of this galvanizing hymn is evident in the versions offered here for your listening pleasure (and possible mind expansion!). The tune, King’s Lynn, yet another perfectly balanced and profoundly moving creation of Ralph Vaughan Williams, unites and uplifts us, while the words, exhibiting G. K. Chesterton’s trademark power and punch, exhort us collectively as Christians to be our better angels.
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, journalist, biographer, radio personality, debater, political activist, was a force unto himself. He is familiar to modern readers (and watchers of television) through his Father Brown mysteries, but his political ideas and religious beliefs were also widely influential. Indeed, Mahatma Gandhi took inspiration from Chesterton's writings on India when constructing his own movement. A prolific writer and outsized person and personality (his coffin was too big to fit through his door, and so was lifted out the second story window), Chesterton enjoyed sparring verbally with George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Bertrand Russell and Clarence Darrow. He maintained warm friendships even when he profoundly disagreed with his friends’ ideas and beliefs. In his writing, as in his life, his wit and humor shone through, even as he made serious points about politics, philosophy, theology and the human condition.
Born and raised an Anglican, Chesterton credited his wife Frances with leading him to his deep religious beliefs, first in the Anglican church and then, as a convert, in 1922, in the Catholic Church. Near the end of Chesterton’s life, Pope Pius XI invested him as 'Knight Commander with Star' of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great. The Chesterton Society has started a campaign, thus far unsuccessful, to beatify Chesterton. In the Episcopal Church, he is remembered with a provisional feast day on June 13.
In 2015, James Parker wrote an article in The Atlantic magazine about Chesterton. Here is an excerpt from Parker’s enthusiastic, insightful appraisal:
“Chesterton was a journalist; he was a metaphysician. He was a reactionary; he was a radical…he was a mystic wedded to eternity….His message, a steady illumination beaming and clanging through every lens and facet of his creativity, was really very straightforward: get on your knees, modern man, and praise God.”
Faithfully yours,
Mary Therese
Text to hymn:
1 O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
2 From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
3 Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.
