A good song is a good song.

FWIW, I found that singing in my mum's church (Methodist, English) seemed rather pathetic after I got into folk music. It wasn't just the singers (a majority of whom were very proper elderly women) either. The problem I found was that the songs were all absolutely terrible, so it just wasn't possible to sing something that bad with any kind of conviction. Every last one was written by someone whose religiousness far exceeded their tune- or lyrics-writing ability. (Yes, Wesley J, I'm looking at you! and don't think you insipid Victorians are getting away with it either...)

I have to say I feel a damn sight more spirituality in a good sing-song with people harmonising every which way than I've ever felt singing in church. Which rather leads me to the conclusion that any sensible god would rather people did things well than did them as a way of currying favour.

Gospel and revival-style music generally is a bit different though, in that people *have* actually found some decent tunes to sing to. It'd be nice for English churches to do a bit more of that, but all those elderly women are so used to the insipid crap they've been singing all their lives that full-fat inhibited singing would probably kill them. ;-)

Graham.