GK Chesterton was a great apologist for Christianity, in may ways perhaps a Catholic forerunner and inspiration for CS Lewis.
I commend the passionate words of this hymn that he wrote, which feel so timely for our riven nation. We have reinterpreted it here in a more contemporary style, beautifully sung by Megan Topper (nee Mellamphey), accompanied by David Booth.
Chesterton's original words are on the left here, with my infinitely inferior version below this:
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 honour 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.
My Version:
O God of Earth and altar, incline Your ear to hear.
Our earthly leaders falter; and people turn their backs
the lure of fame entombs us, the swords of scorn divide,
take not Your blessing from us, but take away our pride.
From all that terror wages, from lies of tongue and pen;
From all deceitful promises that comfort, lure and lie;
From all that's lewd and crude, that mocks Your Name O Christ;
From sleep and from damnation, Deliver us, Good Lord.
Tie in a living tether the Church that bears Your Name.
Bind all our lives together, release and use us all;
in praise and exultation aflame with faith fire,
raise up a holy nation, to seek You in love.