Back to results

University of Sheffield

The role of music and musicians in current English parish church worship : the attitudes of clergy and organists.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

One of the many issues currently confronting the Church of England is the role of music in worship. It is not a new debate, but has been brought into sharper focus in recent years in the wake of liturgical change. After examining the fundamental issues of the debate, the author considers them in the context of the present day. Other current matters of concern will also be discussed. The effects of liturgical change are then considered. The discussion is then widened to include: - a review of current hymnals and psalters; - a survey of the courses and qualifications in church music available in Great Britain; - three case studies demonstrating the problems that can arise when clergy and church musicians are in conflict; - a review of surveys in church music undertaken since 1950. The main work comprises a detailed survey by questionnaire to the priest-in-charge and organist at almost half the churches in a large diocese (that of Oxford). This yields an overall picture of: - respondents' personal backgrounds and general attitudes; - respondents' perceptions, both objective and subjective, of the situation at their church, and of each other. From these varied strands are drawn certain conclusions for improving clergy-organist relationships, and suggestions for further research in the subject.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Ph.D
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Sheffield
Year dc:date.issued
1990

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Rees, Robin Lodowick Douglas

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
uk.bl.ethos.283902
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:1808

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
White Rose University Consortium
Base URL
etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/cgi/oai2
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Rees, Robin Lodowick Douglas. The role of music and musicians in current English parish church worship : the attitudes of clergy and organists.. doctoral thesis, University of Sheffield, 1990.