8 July 2025

John Clare was baptised on 11 August 1793 in the local parish church. He belonged to the Church of England all his days. However, he was aware of the other local denominations worshipping at one point with the Methodists.

He knew about the Catholics and wrote about the Jews and Mohametans. Whilst God doesn’t often make an appearance in his verse, his obvious love of the creation draws him closer to his creator!

‘Tis nature’s wonder and her maker’s voice,

Who bade earth be and order owns him still,

As that superior power who keeps the key

Of wisdom, power and might through all eternity. (The Eternity of Nature)

In his introduction to one of Clare’s longest poems, ’The Parish’, Eric Robinson says, ‘He was a Christian first and an Anglican second. He wanted to see all Christians united in a common faith practising kindness and love to those in need, whatever their race or creed.’

It’s a refreshingly contemporary point of view manifested in our ecumenical movement. It grew out of the divisions of the nineteenth century. If only the church had listened to Clare, things might have turned out quite differently!

Thus creeds all differ yet each different sect

From the free agents to the grand elect

Who cull a remnant for the promised land

That wear heaven’s mark as sheep their owners brand

Each thinks his own as right and others wrong

And thus keeps up confusions babel song. (The Parish)