Church music puts off young people (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Church music puts off young people

12:53pm Monday 6th August 2012 in Letters

I REFER to Richard Lester's letter (or was it Victor Meldrew), Standard, July 16.

I agree that some of the music on TV is not to my taste but have no objection to other people who enjoy it, good luck to them. However, I take strong objection to his term "happy clappy music".

As a Catholic I am not surprised that the music in the Church is old fashioned and, mostly, outdated. Unlike Mr. Lester I appreciate that some people like that music. One church service could cater for them and another for the so termed "happy clappy" people. He totally ignores the fact that such music also praises God ( I suggest he reads Psalm 150).

The lack of young people in Church is testimony to this. Go to the Baptist Church and see how many young people are there praising God and praying together through such music. Each to his own, but to make such blanket and wholly misguided and un-Christian statements is beyond the pale.

The old fashioned music is one of the reasons that I frequent the Church less because it seeks only to cater for older people and pays no regard to the younger generation, or those who prefer to move forward rather than backward.

MARIO ASCIAK Milbourne Malmesbury