Main content

I Vow to thee my Country

An exploration of the hymn which stirs patriotism and controversy when sung at national events. With Julian Mitchell. From July 2006.

A hymn that has attracted controversy for its patriotism, I Vow To Thee My Country was born just after the First World War.

Ralph Vaughan Williams had the inspirational idea to put together the stirring music from Holst's Jupiter movement and the poem written by American ambassador Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, which was found on his desk when he left office.

Featuring:

Raymond Head
David Burton
Bishop of Hulme, Stephen Lowe
Martin Linton
Battersea Singers
Julian Mitchell
Dr Martin Neary

Producer: Sara Conkey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2006.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 7 Oct 202000:30

Broadcasts

  • Fri 26 Feb 201618:30
  • Sat 27 Feb 201600:30
  • Tue 6 Oct 202018:30
  • Wed 7 Oct 202000:30

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

Podcast