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Rex
UK News

'Church going' poet Philip Larkin to get Westminster Abbey memorial

by Desmond Busteed

A ledger stone will be placed in Poets' Corner and will be dedicated on Friday 2nd December 2016, the anniversary of Larkin's death in 1985.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall justified his decision to honour Larkin, who was openly scornful of Christianity, because he believes the poet was also 'intrigued' by religion.

Dr Hall highlights Larkin's 'Church Going' poem, written after the poet visited an empty local church ponders the death of traditional church attendance, but says the building should be preserved as a place to ponder life's most serious questions.

The church is a "serious house on serious earth ... In whose blent air all our compulsions meet, are recognised, and robed as destinies," he writes. "And that much never can be obsolete."

Poets' Corner became established at Westminster Abbey after Geoffrey Chaucer's remains were interred in a tomb there in 1556. Larkin's memorial plaque will be placed near to Chaucer's tomb.

Dr Hall said, "With the kings and queens in Westminster Abbey are buried or memorialised 3,300 men and women, many of whom have contributed with distinction to the health and well-being not only of the people of England and the United Kingdom and Commonwealth but of the whole English-speaking world.

"Within the Abbey's ancient walls, alive with prayer and celebration, are writers and poets whose work has entertained and ennobled their readers, lying among the benefactors, inventors and scientists, actors and architects, clergy, artists and musicians, politicians, judges and explorers, soldiers, sailors and airmen."

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