On November 5th, a Summary of Christian Politics, in Music

G. K. Chesterton’s great hymn, a sharp (and singable) summary of the Christian hope for political and national life. Every line speaks directly to our moment.

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.

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 honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!

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.

Here it is sung by the choir and congregation of St. Martin in the Fields. The tune was arranged by Chesterton’s friend Ralph Vaughan Williams. O God of Earth and Altar was written while he was still an Anglican, a couple of years before he wrote Orthodoxy.