Hymns in pubs

Subject: Hymns in pubs
From: GUEST,Curious
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 02:30 PM

I read a review of a book ('Between Pulpit and Pew: Folk Religion in a North Yorkshire Fishing Village')that mentions 'singing in the pub'. Does anyone know of any tradition of singing hymns in pubs?

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: GUEST,Black Hawk
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 02:53 PM

Dont know about tradition but I have sung 'These Hands', 'If We Never Meet Again' and 'Peace in the Valley' in many pubs and had attentive audiences. Also, when attending a session in a seafront pub in Staithes, a local 'ancient mariner' (lovely bloke) sang 'Let the Lower Lights Keep Burning'. May not be hymns as such but are darned close!

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: skipy
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:06 PM

Please try and keep up with government, there is NO history of people singing in pubs!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Megan L
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:17 PM

In orkney there was a salvation army lad used to go into the pubs to sell the warcry but he never got out without singing several hymns he had such an enticing voice.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: sian, west wales
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:23 PM

Come to Wales. That's all they bl**din' sing anymore. Pity.

sian

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: r.padgett
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 05:05 PM

I thought that that was all the Sheffield Carols was about

Singing in the Church and then singing in the Pub afterwards, leading to a general barring of the local carols and the clergy writing their own Christmas carols to be sung in Church

Correct me if you know better!!

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 05:06 PM

Maybe we should start a tradition of singing hymns in pubs just to see how that nice, religious Mr Bliar deals with it. Bearing in mind that we still have an established church, of which he is not a member, let's see him ban that bugger.
Keep the faith brethren...

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: skipy
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 05:11 PM

Maybe we should start a tradition of drinking in churches, I'm up for it!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 06:35 PM

Naah... that Altar Wine is rubbish!!

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: John J
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 02:49 AM

You've tried it then....?

:-)

JJ

BTW are we snugging terneet?

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Fliss
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 03:00 AM

As you all know lots of the hymn tunes began as folk songs. So they are being played in sessions.

Which folk group sang 'To be a pilgrim'? Was it Albion Band?

My favourite 'hymn' tune is Slane. We play it quite often as a tune in sessions. People are surprised as they only think of it as a hymn tune, not as an Irish air.

Id love to re-learn St Patricks Breastplate to sing on Saturday evening at the gig we have.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Scrump
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:14 AM

Maybe we should start a tradition of drinking in churches, I'm up for it!

If village pubs continue to close at the current rate, maybe the churches will have to take over the function of the pub, as well as the post office and village shop. I guess that's one way to get bums on seats on Sundays :-)

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:31 AM

Well, there used to be a tradition in Wales - "cwrw'r Achos", "the beer of the Cause". As it was explained to me, it was a small beer brewed to raise funds for chapels. Pre-Victorian, I think. Probably not actually served IN the chapels.

The Drovers Arms here in town is in a terrace, adjoined to the Congregationalist Chapel's 'school room' (vestry / Sunday School room) and there used to be a hatch between the two. The pub would pass food *and drink* into the school room at lunchtime on Sunday for the visiting preacher.

Back to hymns, there's a well known singer here in Wales who, for a long time, wouldn't sing hymns in pubs as a matter of principle but he's changed his mind, partly because he now accepts that some hymns are firmly entrenched as 'popular' songs ('folk'). I also know for a fact that Cwm Rhondda was nearly left out of a new hymn book in Wales a few years back because most of the Editorial committee thought it had been corrupted by use in the rugby terraces. As it happens, the member in charge of taking the final proof to the printer didn't agree ... and somehow Cwm Rhondda 'slipped in'.

sian

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: The Doctor
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:14 AM

Not just in Wales. 'Church-Ale' is still used to describe a fund-raising event for a church, the idea originating in Medieval times, when the ale was brewed specially for the occasion. Harvest Ales, and ales for a variety of other festivals, are still brewed. The ale aspect of church-ale was banned at The Reformation, but like other government attempts to ban things, it was not entirely successful, and the whole concept of a church-ale, as a celebration with alcohol, is being revived. Lots of info on the net.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:41 AM

See - you come to Mudcat, you learn stuff. Most excellent.

sian

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Marje
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 06:55 AM

Here in Devon, there are quite a number of of "Church House Inns". These are very old inns set close to a church; as I understand it, the inn was built originally to provide accommodation for the stonemasons etc working on the construction of the church, which often took many years. I don't know quite how they evolved in the intervening centuries, but now they're regular pubs, owned by the Church and mangaged by tenant landlords.

The churches in question are now mostly (or all?) Church of England now, although many go back to before the Reformation. To someone who was brought up in the Presbyterian/Methodist tradition, it seems a bit odd to have the Church making money out of the sale of alcohol, but it certainly does quite well out of some of Devon's most charming old inns.

But do they sing hymns there? Nope, not in my experience.

Marje

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: AlanG
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 07:33 AM

To get back to the music and awyy from this nasty talk of drinking-
Fliss points out that a lot of hymn tunes originasted as folk tunes, which is undoubtidly true. You only have to go to "The English Hymnal" edited of course by RVW, which is crammed full of them. What is equally true that a lot of folk tunes originated as hymn tune. So the two have fed of each other over the centuries - it's called the folk process!

Any yes JJ we are snugging tonight but I might be a little late because I'm singing an anthem in church first.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Scrump
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 08:55 AM

Any yes JJ we are snugging tonight but I might be a little late because I'm singing an anthem in church first

Don't drink too much in church - save some room for ale in the snug :-)

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: GUEST,AlanG
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 09:04 AM

There's many a slip twixt cup and lip (or in my case fingures) Better take it steady on Bernard's Altar Wine!

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Hollowfox
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 12:45 PM

Well, over here in the USA, I confess I gave my (Methodist) minister quite a jolt when I remarked, "You know, that's the first time I've ever sung that hymn in a church." It was Amazing Grace, I think. He hasn't quite got up the courage to ask me just where I was singing it, and I like to leave him wondering, just a bit.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:16 PM

the landlords prayer

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:20 PM

I've sung hymns in Pubs in the US and have done it for years. It doesn't seem uncommon at all to me. I've seen/heard others do it too.

Subject: RE: Hymns in pubs
From: Jim Lad
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 05:34 PM

I was in a church that had confessionals just like Dellot's Pub!