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This item is taken from PN Review 13, Volume 6 Number 5, May - June 1980.

A Petition
To the Right Reverend Fathers-in-God, the Clergy, and laity of the General Synod of the Church of England.

FATHERS AND BRETHREN

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the policies and tendencies which decree the loss of both the Authorised Version of the English Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. This great act of forgetting, now under way, is a tragic loss to our historic memory and an impoverishment of present awareness. For centuries these texts have carried forward the freshness and simplicity of our language in its early modern splendour. Without them the resources of expression are reduced, the stock of shared words depleted, and we ourselves diminished. Moreover they contain nothing which cannot be easily and profitably explained.

We ask for their continued and loving use in churches as part of the mainstream of worship and not as vestiges indulged intermittently. We welcome innovation and experiment, but hope that changes will take place alongside the achievements of the past. The younger generation in particular should be acquainted as far as possible with their inheritance.

Clearly this is not an issue confined only to the churches of communities of faith. Some of us do not claim religious belief. Yet we hope that steps are taken to ensure a lively pleasure in the Authorised Version of the Bible in the nation at large. If humane education means anything it includes access to the great renderings of epic wisdom, prophecy and poetry, epistle and gospel.

Lord Blake F. B. A., Provost of the Queen's College and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Oxford University
Dr Derek Brewer F. S. A., Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University
Lord Briggs, Provost of Worcester College, Oxford University, and Sometime President the Workers Educational Association
Lord Bullock F. B. A., Master of St Catherine's College and Sometime Vice-Chancellor Oxford University
E. M. Chilver, Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.
Sir Alan Cottrell F. R. S., Master of Jesus College and Vice Chancellor Cambridge University
Barbara Craig, Principal of Somerville College, Oxford University
Jean Floud C. B. E., Principal of Newnham college, Cambridge University
Lord Goodman C. H., Master of University College, Oxford University
Sir William Hawthorne C. B. E., F. R. S., Master of Churchill College, Cambridge University
Professor Mary Hesse F. B. A., Professor of the Philosophy of Science and Vice-President of Wolfson College, Cambridge University
Dame Rosemary Murray D. B. E., President of New Hall and Sometime Vice-Chancellor Cambridge University
Joseph Needham, F. R. S., F. B. A., Sometime Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University
Anthony Quinton F. B. A., President of Trinity College, Cambridge University
Sir Richard Southern F. B. A.,President of St John's College, Oxford University
John Sparrow O. B. E., Sometime Warden ofAll Soul's College, Oxford University
The Rt. Hon. Lord Trend P. C., Former Secretary to the Cabinet, and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford University
Rachel Trickett, Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford University
Professor Bernard Williams F. B. A., Provost of King's College, Cambridge University

Professor Dorothy Emmett, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University
Professor Richard Gombrich, Professor of Sanskrit, Wolfson College, Oxford University
Professor A. H. Halsey, Reith Lecturer and Professor of Social and Administrative Studies, Oxford University
Professor R. M. Hare, Corpus Christi College, Oxford University
Professor Antony Hewish F. R. S., Professor of Radioastronomy, Cambridge University
Professor John Holloway, Professor of English, The Queen's College, Cambridge University
Professor Hugh Lloyd-Jones F. B. A., Regius Professor of Greek, Oxford University
Professor Basil Mitchel, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, Oriel College, Oxford University
Marjorie Reeves F. B. A., St Anne's College, Oxford University
Professor Sir Peter Strawson F. B. A., Magdalen College, Oxford University
Sir Ronald Syme O. M., F. B. A.,Wolfson College, Oxford University
Mary Warnock, St Hugh's College, Oxford University
Dr. B. R. Wilson, All Soul's College, Oxford University

    Mildred Archer O. B. E. Cecily Duthart, Oxford
    P.Hesketh-Williams, St Hugh's College, Oxford University M. Hussey, Oxford
    Graham Howes, Trinty Hall, cambridge University J. S. Kelly, St John's COllege, Oxford University
    G. H. L. Le May, Worcester College, Oxford University Margaret Miller, Ashmolean Library, Oxford University
    Professor Rodney Needham, Professor of Social Anthrolpology and fellow of All Soul's College, Oxford University
    Lady Oppenheimer, Cambridge University G. S. J. Peppin, Oxford
    Helen Pippin, Oxford Robert Shackleton F. B. A., Bodley's Librarian, Oxford University
    Dame Lucy Sutherland, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University Margaret Toynbee, St Hugh's College, Oxford University
    J. M. Walker, Worcester College, Oxford University J. S. Wilders Worcester College, Oxford University
                    E. P. Wilson, Worcester College, Oxford University
    
    Professor Geoffrey Best, Sussex University Sir Arthur Bryant C. H.
    Professor Richard Cobb C. B. E., Worcester College, Oxford University
    Professor A. G. Dickens C. M. G., F. B. A., Institute of Historical Research, London University
    Professor John F. C. Harrison, Sussex University Professor Gordon Leff, York University
    The Hon. Sir Steven Runciman F. S. A., A. J. P. Taylor F. B. A.
    Professor H. R. Trevor-Roper, Reginus Professor of Modern History, Oxford University

Dr Jonathan Benthall, Director Royal Anthropolgical Institute
Professor Mary Douglas, Russell Sage Foundation;Professor of Anthropology, University College, London
Dr E Goodman, Chairman Acton Society Trust
Professor Kathleen Jones, Professor of Social Administration, York University; Member of Abp's Commissions on Church and State, and on Marriage
Dr Frances Huxley, Anthropologist;Director the Philadelphia Association
Professor Lucy Mair, Emeritus Professor of Anthroplogy, L. S. E.
Professor John Barron Mays, Professor of Sociology, Liverpool University
Professor G. Duncan Mitchell M. B. E., Professor of Sociology, Exeter University
Professor J. D. Y. Peel, Charles Booth Professor of Sociology, Liverpool University
Roger Scruton, Reader in Political Science, Birkbeck College, London University
Professor Paul Seabury, of Political Science, Berkeley, University of California;: The Hoover Institution
Professor Hugh Seton-Watson, Professor of Russian Studies, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London University
Professor Victor Turner, Professor of Anthropology, University of Virginia

Raymond Chapman, Department of Linguistics, L. S. E.; Assistant Priest St Mary-le-Strand
Professor Maurice Cranston, Professor of Political Science L. S. E.
Professor J. A. G. Griffith F. B. A., Professor of Public Law, L. S. E.; Hon. Sec. Council for Academic Freedom and Democracy
Professor Donald Gunn MacRae, Martin White Professor of Sociology, L. S. E.
Professor David Martin, Professor of Sociology, L. S. E.
Professor Terence Morris, Professor of Sociology, L. S. E.
Professor Michael Oakeshott F. B. A., London School of Economics
Professor Peter Self, Professor of Public Administration, L. S. E.
Ernest Throp, Department of Government, L. S. E.
Professor JOhn Watkins, Professor of Philosophy, L. S. E.
Professor Donald Cameron Watt F. R. Hist. S., Professor of International History, L. S. E.
Professor Peter Wiles, Professor of Russian Social and Economic Studies, L. S. E.
Sir Huw Wheldon O. B. E., Chairman, Board of Governors, L. S. E.

Professor W. H. G. Armytage, Department of Education, Sheffield University
Christabel Burniston, Director of the English Speaking Board
Sir Frederick Dainton F. R. S., Chairman of the British Library Board; Sometime Chairman of the U. G. C.
Professor Boris Ford, Professor of Education, Bristol University
General Sir John Hackett G. C. B., C. B. E., D. S. O.,M. C., Formerly Principal of King's College, London and C. in C., B. A. O. R.
Professor Liam Hudson, Professor of Psychology, Brunel University
Dr Fred Inglis, Reader in Education, Bristol University
Lord James of Rusholme, Sometime Vice-Chancellor York University and Chairman Royal Fine Art Commission
Dr Harry Judge, Director Department of Education, Oxford University
Dr. B. B. Lloyd, Director Oxford Polytechnic
Sir Kenneth Mellanby C. B. E., D. Sc., Sometime Principal of University College, Ibadan; Director Monks Wood, Experimental Station, Huntingdon
Professor Wilfred Mellors, Professor of Music, York University
Professor W. R. Niblett C. B. E. Sheila m. Niblett
Dr John Rae, Headmaster Westminster School; Chairman Head Masters's Conference 1977
Martin Scott, Second Master, Winchester College
Dr G. Templeman F. S. A., Vice-Chancellor University of Kent at Canterbury
Dr Bryan Thwaites, Principal, Westfields College, London University
Rev. Canon Dr George Tolley, Director Sheffield Polytechnic
Sir Richard Way C. B. E., Principal King's College London
Lord Wolfenden C. B. E., President Chelsea College, London University; and sometime Chairman of the U. G. C.
Dr Alan Young, Head of Arts Education, Didsbury College of Education, Manchester Polytechnic

The Rev. James Barclay, Senior Chaplain and Collect, Eton College
Gerald Bonner, Reader in Patristics, Durham University
The Very Rev. Antony Cyprian Bridge, Dean of Guildford
The Rev. Dr Peter Brooks, Precentor and Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge University
Canon A. St. G. Colthurst, Tewkesbury
Professor the Rev. Canon Dunstan F. S. A., Dean of the Faculty of Theology; Professor oof Moral and Social Theology, Kings College, London University
The Rev. S. T. Easter, St Margaret-at-Cliffe, Dover
Professor Eric Jay, Department of Theology, McGill University, Montreal
The Ven. Dr Harold Lockley, Archdeacon of Loughborough
The Rev. Andrew Lough, Chaplain, Worcester COllege, Oxford University
Professor John MacQuarrie, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, Christchurch, Oxford University
Chancellor the Rev. E. Garth MOore, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, Church Commissioner
The Rev. Francis Moss, President of the Anglican Association
The Rev. Professor Geoffrey Parinder, Emeritus Professor of Comparative Religion, Kings College London
Professor the Rev. Cannon J. R. Porter, Professor of Theology, Exeter University
The Rev E. H. Robertson
The Rev. Professor E. Gordon Rupp F. B. A., Sometime Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Cambridge University
Dr Anthony Russell, Canon Theologian of Coventry Cathedral; Chaplain Arthur Rank Centre (National Agricultural Centre) Lincoln
Dr Alec Vidler, Sometime Dean of Kings College, Cambridge University; Friars of the Sack, Rye
The Rev. Dr Arthur Peacocke, Bamptom Lecturer 1978; Dean of Clare College, Cambridge University
The Rev. John Sturdy, Dean of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Univeristy

    Dame Peggy Ashcroft D. B. E. Andrew Cruickshank D. Litt.
    Sir John Gielgud C. H. Joyce Grenfell O. B. E.
    Sir Peter Hall C. B. E., Director the National Theatre Dame Wendy Hiller D. B. E.
    George Howe, 'Equity' Glenda Jackson
    Alec McCowen Dame Anna Neagle D. B. E.
    Derek Nimmo Lord Olivier
    Sir Ralph Richardson Dame Flora Robson D. B. E., D. Litt.
    Paul Schofield, Associate Director, the National Theatre Athene Seyler
    Donald Sinden Dame Ninette de Valois D. B. E.

Michael Behrens
Ivor Bulmer-Thomas F. S. A. Hon. Director Friends of Friendless Churches, Chairman Ancient Monuments Society
Sir Hugh Casson, President of the Royal Academy
Lord Clark O. M., C. H., F. B. A., Chancellor, York University
Kenneth Garlick, Keeper of Fine Art, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University
Sir Ernest Gombrich C. B. E., F. B. A.
Frances Haskell F. B. A., Professor of Art History, Oxford University
    Sir Osbert Lancaster C. B. E. Henry Moore O. M., C. H., F. B. A.
J. N. L. Myres C. B. E., F. B. A., F. S. A., Sometime Bodley's Librarian and President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries
David Piper C. B. E., F. S. A., Director of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University
    JOhn Piper C. H. Sir Sacheverell Sitwell
    Ruskin Spear C. B. E., R. A. Dr Roy Strong F. S. A., Director Victoria and Albert Museum
Graham Sutherland O. M.

    Kingsley Amis Beryl Bainbridge
    Professor Malcolm Bradbury F. R. S. L., Department of English, University of East Anglia
    Alan Bennett John Fowles
    Christopher Fry Roger Fulford
    Roy Fuller C. B. E., Professor of Poetry, Oxford University 1968-1973
    Alan Garner William Golding C. B. E.
    Marghanita Laski Laurie Lee
    Dr Jonathan Miller J. B. Priestley O. M.
    Iris Murdoch C. B. E., Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford University
    Dame Freya Stark D. B. E. Dame Rebecca West D. B. E.
    George Barker Sir John Betjamin, Poet Laureate
    George Mackay Brown Charles Causley
    Robert Conquest O. B. E. Professor Donald Davie, Vanderbilt University
    Valerie Eliot John Heath-Stubbs
    Professor Geoffrey Hill, Leeds University Ted Hughes O. B. E.
    Peter Jones, Managing Director, Carcanet Press Philip Larkin C. B. E., Librarian, Hull University
    George Macbeth John Moat
    Ruth Pitter C. Lit. C. H. Sisson
    Anthony Thwaite F. R. S. L. Charles Tomlinson F. S. S. L.
    Andrew Waterman, School of Humanities, New University of Ulster, Coleraine

    Lord David Cecil C. H. Dame Helen Gardner D. B. E., F. B. A.
Professor Henry Gifford, Bristol University
Richard Hoggart, Warden, Goldsmith College, London University
Professor Frank Kermode, King Edward VII Professor of English, Cambridge University
Dr Q. D. Leavis, Girton College, Cambridge University
Professor Sir Victor S. Pritchett C. B. E.
(The Late) Professor I. A. Richards C. H., Magdalene College, Cambridge University, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
Dr George Rylands C. B. E., Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University
Professor Kathleen Tillotson F. B. A., University of London

    Peter Abbs, Gryphon Press, sussex Dr W. H. Allchin
    A. Gresham Busfield Ronald Butt The Times and The Sunday Times
    from Department of English, Nene College Northampton Freda Inglis, Stockton-on-Tees
    I. C. Fisher Peter Inglis, Stockton-on-Tees
    Sylvia Hardy Joan Malleson
    Jane E. Harrison Peter and Iona Opie
    Christopher Ringrose Elizabeth O'Leary
    L. D. Lester, Headmistress, Bury Grammar School for Girls; and Member of A. C. C. M.
    Dame Beryl Paston Brown D. B. E., Sometime Principal of Homerton College Cambridge
    Miss C. F. E. Price, canterbury Dr Frances Stevens
    Helen Simpson O. B. E., Formerly Principal of Exhall College of Education, Coventry
    E. W. F. Tomalin
    
Professor John Bayley, Department of English, Oxford University
Professor Bernard Bergonzi, Department of English, Warwick University
Professor R. L. Brett, Department of English, Hull University
A. C. Capey, Principal Lecturer in English, City of Manchester College
Professor David Carroll, Department of English, Lancaster University
Professor C. B. Cox, Department of English, Manchester University
Andor Gomme, Reader, Department of English, Keele University
Gerald Hammond, Department of English, Manchester University
Professor Arthur Humphreys, Department of English, Leicester University
Grevel Lindop, Department of English, Manchester University
Professor Brian Morris, Department of English, Sheffield University
Professor D. J. Palmer, Department of English, Manchester University
Professor Arthur Pollard, Department of English, Hull University
Michael Schmidt, Carcanet Press and Department of English, Manchester University
Alan Shelston, Department of English, Manchester University
Professor William Walsh F. S. R. A., Professor of Commonwealth Literature, Leeds University
Dr Michael Wheeler, Department of English, Lancaster University

Professor C. L. Brooks, Department of English, Exeter University
Professor John Russell Brown, Department of English, Sussex University and Associate Director the National Theatre
Professor John Chalker, Department of English, Westfields College, London University
    Margaret Chalker Dr Basil Cottle, Department of English, Bristol University
Professor Denis Donoghue, University College Dublin
Professor Maurice Evans, Department of English, Exeter University
Professor A. Gurr, Department of English, Reading University
Dr V. Herman, Department of Linguistics, Lancaster University
David Holbrook, Sometime Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge and co-editor the Cambridge Hymnal
Professor John Jones, Professor of Poetry, Oxford University
Dr Stephen Metcalf, Department of English, Sussex University
Charles Osborne, Literature Director, Arts Council of Great Britain
Dr Stephen Prickett, Reader, Department of English, Sussex University, and Secretary 'The Higher Education Group'
Ian Robinson, Department of English, University College, Swansea
Professor Roger Sharrock, Department of English, Kings College, London
Professor A. J. Smith, Department of English, Southampton University
Peter Tomlinson, Department of English, Bristol University
Dr Dudley Young, Department of English, Essex University

Dr David R. Bell, Senior Lecturer in Logic, Glasgow University
    from Department of English, Glasgow University from Clifton College, Bristol
    Lizabeth Atkinson R.Barton
    D. A. Bank L. H. Binns
    Professor J. C. Bryce G. N. Burton
    Professor P. H. Butter D. C. Clarke
    Richard Cronin T. W. C. Gover
    Professor K. P. A. Drew J. M. Gibbs
    Dr R. A. D. Grant D. C. Henderson
    Dr Philip Hobsbaum C. J. F Jeffries
    C. McMahon N. J. H. Jones
    David Newell A. McDonald
    D. M. O'Brien J. E. Marsh
    Dorothy Porter D. R. Pettit, Director of Music
    Patrick Reilly E. F. Polaca
    Professor J. A. M. Rillie D. S. Reed
    John F. Ross M. J. Talibard
    C. H. Salter Brian Worthington, Head of English
    Marshall Walker -
    T. F. Wharton J. F. Baines
    A. E. Yearling J. P. Barratt, Crowe Hall, Widcombe, Bath
    Elizabeth Yearling M. Bennett
                                    I. R. T. Brinton, Cotham
    H. G. Edwards, Bristol A. K. Jones, Bristol
    G. W. Jones, The Old Chapel, Shepton Mallett G. H. Sutton Bristol
                            W. C. Watson, Bristol
    H. M. I. Bax, Dover College from Blackheath Poetry Society
    Eric Austen, Goldsmith College, London University June Wedgwood Benn, Freelance writer
    Nigel Dodd, Department of Humanities, Bristol University William Gordon Bratt, Civil Servant
    Faith Keymer, Comprehensive School Teacher Fiona Gardner
    Helen Lefroy, Director of Carcanet Press Amory Leggatt
    Sybil Marshall, Sussex University David Leggatt, Retired Borough Librarian
    Charles Martindale, Sussex University -
    Natalie Miles, Lewisham Children's Department Anne Smith
    R. Norman C. Vance, Sussex University Dr Margaret Weldhen, Bath University
    Helen Williams, Headmistress, Blackheath High School Eric Austen, Goldsmith College, London University
    Nigel Dodd, Department of Humanities, Bristol University Alan Hindle, Principal Lecturer in English, Ilkley College
Mrs Joyce Hudson, Newton's College Lichfield
Margaret Farrer O. B. E., First woman midwife Chairman Central Midwives Board

    Ian Hamilton Finlay, Little Sparta, Dunsyre Mairi Susan Finlay, Little Sparta, Dunsyre

    Cliff Ashby, Dewsbury Clive Wilmer, Cambridge
    David Day, Ackworth School, Ackworth Anne Tibble, Guilsborough
    Michael Hamburger F. R. S. L., saxmundham David Wright, Appleby in Westmoreland
    Philippa Wright, Appleby in Westmoreland Jenny Joseph, London
    Neil Powell, Baldock Peter Scupham, Hitchin
    Lionel Salter, London Fleur Adcock, London
    Robert Wells, Stockport Peter Jay, Anvil Press Poetry, London
    Mary Atterbury, West Haddon Gladys Atterbury, West Haddon

Dr Paula Clifford, Department of French Studies, Reading University
Jane Gardner, Curator, Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, Reading University
    Elizabeth Heale, Departmemt of English, Reading University Dr Brian Kemp, Department of History, Reading University
Dr David Lee, Department of French Studies, Reading University
Dr John Mitchell, Department of French Studies, Reading University
Dr Peter Noble, Secretary, Graduate Centre for Medieval Studies, Reading University
Fred Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Classics, Reading University
Geoffrey Strickland, Reader, Department of French Studies, Reading University
Dr C. Thacker, Whiteknights Hall
Lady Bruce Lockhart, Department of Theology, Exeter University
Dr M. Garland, Department of German, Exeter University
Professor H. B. Garland, Emeritus Professor of German, Sometime Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University
Professor J. C. Holdsworth, Professor of Medieval History, Exeter University
Professor T. P. Wiseman, Professor of Classics, Exeter University
Dr J. Wylie, Department of Theology, Exeter University (formerly of Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford)

J.C. Batty, Headmistress, Bury Grammar School for Girls
The Very Rev. R. A. Beddoes, Provost of Derby
Sir Robert Helpmann, C. B. E.
Bernice Martin, Bedford College, London University
Patrick O'Neill Q. C. Warden of All Soul's College, Oxford University
Fraser Steel, Poetry Editor, B. B. C. Radio, Manchester
Professor John Stevens, Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English, Cambridge
A. S. Byatt, Department of English, University College, London

This item is taken from PN Review 13, Volume 6 Number 5, May - June 1980.



Readers are asked to send a note of any misprints or mistakes that they spot in this item to editor@pnreview.co.uk
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