WIRED Staff

The U2-Charist

Church music just got a hell of a lot worse: For Anglicans who still haven’t found what they’re looking for, the Church of England is staging its first “U2-charist” communion service — replacing hymns with hit songs by the Irish supergroup. ADVERTISEMENT “Rock music can be a vehicle of immense spirituality,” said Bishop of Grantham […]

U2

Church music just got a hell of a lot worse:

For Anglicans who still haven't found what they're looking for, the Church of England is staging its first "U2-charist" communion service -- replacing hymns with hit songs by the Irish supergroup.
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"Rock music can be a vehicle of immense spirituality," said Bishop of Grantham Timothy Ellis, announcing plans for the unique service in the central English town of Lincoln in May.

A live band is to play U2 classics like "Beautiful Day" and "Mysterious Ways" with special singalong lyrics displayed on a giant screen. Seating for the 500-strong congregation is to be re-arranged so everyone can dance and wave their hands.

At the risk of making a generalization here, I'd like to point out that churches that feel the need to get up in the aisles, dance and bang upon communal tambourines are almost always made up of gobbling white people with the rhythm and equilibrium of a Chronic Inner Ear Infection support group. Such a display should not be encouraged even accompanying the best of music, let alone some of the worst songs to ever emerge from the lips of the smug and messianic lead singer of Ireland's most overrated band.

"U2-charist": Bono moves in mysterious ways [Reuters]