Langton Community Hall, Tuesday, 16th June, 7:30pm
The story based on the life of John Davidson, who grew up in the 1980s with Tourette’s Syndrome. He faced a society and community that did not understand his condition. His tribulations are told movingly in this film, directed, written and produced by Kirk Jones and released in 2025.
With five BAFTA nominations and Best Actor awarded to Robert Aramayo, the film also features Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson and Peter Mullen in supporting roles.
Mark Kermode gave the film a glowing review, calling it a ‘fabulous’, moving and profound film. He described it as a beautiful, three-dimensional look at a disabled individual’s life that will make audiences both laugh and cry.
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Langton Community Hall, Tuesday, 21st April, 7:30pm
The Choral is a 2025 British historical drama film co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, and Simon Russell Beale.
Set in 1916, during World War I, in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, the film follows the members of the local choral society which recruits a disparate group of townspeople for a performance of Edward Elgar‘s The Dream of Gerontius.
The group soon discover that making music together is their best response to the chaos and loss of war.
Peter Bradshaw, writing in The Guardian, called it “a quiet and consistent pleasure: an unsentimental but deeply felt drama”.
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I Vow To Thee My Country’ Sir Cecil Spring Rice, GCMG, GCVO / Gustav Holst
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test That lays upon the altar, the dearest and the best The love that never falters, the love that pays the price The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know We may not count her armies, we may not see her king Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering And soul by soul, and silently her shining bounds increase And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace
The text for the hymn comes originally from a poem written originally in about 1908, by a British diplomat and Ambassador to the United States, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, (1859-1918).
Called Urbs Dei (The City of God) or ‘The Two Father Lands‘ the poem explores how a Christian will have two countries , his homeland and his heavenly country.
In 1918 just prior to his death and after the trauma and losses of the First World War, Spring Rice rewrote the first verse to ensure it portrayed themes of love and sacrifice.
Music by Gustav Holst, (1874 – 1934)
It was set to music by Gustav Holst, who, in spite of his insistence on the integrity and completeness of his ‘Planets Suite‘, he himself adapted part of Jupiter to form a tune that fitted the words of the poem .
It was published as a hymn in 1925 in the ‘Songs of Praise‘ hymnbook, which was sadly after Spring Rice’s death on 14th February, 1918
The tune was called ‘Thaxted ‘ after the village where Holst lived for many years.
Longstanding Popularity
‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’ has been popular ever since and was used at the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher.
In 2019 it was voted the Nation’s sixth favourite hymn , despite there being some criticism over it with a question over ” unquestioning obedience”.
It continues to be widely used in Remembrance Services worldwide.
With very powerful words it continues to resonate with us as we gather to remember the fallen of all conflicts.
St Peter's Church, Church Langton 