UK church bans 'Onward Christian Soldiers' hymn from Remembrance Sunday event to avoid offending non-Christians

A church in the U.K. has banned the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" from being sung during a Remembrance Sunday service due to concerns that it may offend non-Christians.

Rev. Steve Bailey has decided to not to sing the rousing hymn, which has been sung for over 100 years in memory of British war dead, at the service in St. Peter's Church in Oadby, Leicestershire this year following a meeting with the Royal British Legion (RBL) branch.

The vicar had reportedly banned the hymn because people attending the service would not necessarily be Christian. The Oadby RBL branch reportedly agreed to the vicar's request not to sing the song this year.

However, members of the Oadby RBL club, which is separate from the RBL branch, had objected to the decision and made plans to boycott the service.

Ian Thorpe, the vice-chairman of the Oadby club, said that he was not aware of any complaints being made about the hymn.

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it," he said, according to Daily Mail. "I have been attending that service since I was a child, and can always remember it being sung. Everyone here is very annoyed. It's political correctness gone mad really," he added.

A newly appointed vicar had also decided to ban the hymn from the Remembrance Service back in 2012.

"It is absolutely unbelievable. I have been going to Remembrance Services in Oadby since 1967, and Onward, Christian Soldiers has been sung ever year apart from one," said Pete Green, chairman of the Oadby RBL club.

"That was a few years ago, when another vicar tried to ban it. There was uproar then, and there is uproar now," he added.

Thorpe said that Green was planning to not to attend the event and instead just lay a wreath. Some members of the congregation are also considering staying outside the church and sing the hymn anyway.

In a statement issued by the Diocese of Leicester, Bailey stated that the attendees will now sing "All People That On Earth Do Dwell," instead of the traditional hymn.

Bailey noted that this year would be the first time that the Oadby Multicultural Group will be laying a wreath at the War Memorial as well as the one that he will lay on behalf of the parish.

The further stated that he wants people of all faiths who are "paying respect to those from their own faiths and cultures who served and gave their lives, to feel welcome in the service."

Hundreds of people, including standard bearers from various solders groups around the U.K., are expected to participate in the Oadby parade on Nov. 12.

The annual parade route from St. Peter's Church through the town and back had been cut in half because police said that they cannot spare the officers to marshal the traditional march next month.