From Neil Inkley
Sir, - During the Afghanistan service from St Paul's, I, too,
noticed the congregational "disconnects" listed by the Revd Henry
Ormerod (Letters, 20
March) - not least the many people who were not singing the
hymns.
We have an age divide here: what older people refer to as
"well-known hymns"are not well known by the young. Indeed, many
younger people do not know any hymns at all. This can probably be
attributed more to the abandon-ment of religious assemblies in
schools than to the decline in churchgoing.
None the less, I thought the occasion was marvellous. What was
going on in St Paul's? It was British people, doing what British
people do at times like this. It is a pity that some could not join
in overtly, but that is a reason for regret, not a reason for
promoting change to accommodate such regrets.
NEIL INKLEY
6 Knot Lane
Walton-le-Dale
Preston PR5 4BQ