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| Cathedral plays Lennon's Imagine | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The bells of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral are to ring out to John Lennon's anti-religious anthem Imagine. | The bells of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral are to ring out to John Lennon's anti-religious anthem Imagine. |
| The bells will play the 1971 song, which begins "Imagine there's no Heaven", as part of an arts festival on 16 May at 1300 BST and 1430 BST. | The bells will play the 1971 song, which begins "Imagine there's no Heaven", as part of an arts festival on 16 May at 1300 BST and 1430 BST. |
| A cathedral spokesman said: "Allowing Imagine to be pealed on our bells does not mean we agree with the song lyric." | |
| The song has drawn criticism from some religious figures as Lennon himself as called the anthem "anti-religious". | The song has drawn criticism from some religious figures as Lennon himself as called the anthem "anti-religious". |
| Liverpool Cathedral said it had carefully considered the "sensitivities" surrounding the song's lyrical content. | Liverpool Cathedral said it had carefully considered the "sensitivities" surrounding the song's lyrical content. |
| It is an iconic song...in a thought-provoking and surprising setting Cleo Evans, artist | It is an iconic song...in a thought-provoking and surprising setting Cleo Evans, artist |
| "But we recognise its power to make us think. As a cathedral we do not shrink from debate. We recognise the existence of other world views," added the cathedral spokesman. | "But we recognise its power to make us think. As a cathedral we do not shrink from debate. We recognise the existence of other world views," added the cathedral spokesman. |
| The original idea to ring out Imagine came from artist Cleo Evans, who was commissioned by Futuresonic, a cultural festival, to develop the concept with the Anglican Cathedral. | The original idea to ring out Imagine came from artist Cleo Evans, who was commissioned by Futuresonic, a cultural festival, to develop the concept with the Anglican Cathedral. |
| She said: "Imagine is an incredibly gentle, philosophical and moving song which speaks strongly of the need for peace. | She said: "Imagine is an incredibly gentle, philosophical and moving song which speaks strongly of the need for peace. |
| "It is an iconic song which will be performed in a thought-provoking and surprising setting." | "It is an iconic song which will be performed in a thought-provoking and surprising setting." |
| Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono said the idea was "so beautiful, it made me choke up". | Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono said the idea was "so beautiful, it made me choke up". |
| Ringer Sam Austin, 23, a student at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music will lead the recital. | Ringer Sam Austin, 23, a student at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music will lead the recital. |
| He and seven volunteer bell ringers started rehearsals by playing the melody on hand-bells before progressing to the "world famous" Anglican bells, which are the highest and heaviest ringing peal bells in the world. | He and seven volunteer bell ringers started rehearsals by playing the melody on hand-bells before progressing to the "world famous" Anglican bells, which are the highest and heaviest ringing peal bells in the world. |
| The 13 bells are arranged around 'Great George', a central ringing bell which weighs over 14 tonnes and can be heard for miles around. | The 13 bells are arranged around 'Great George', a central ringing bell which weighs over 14 tonnes and can be heard for miles around. |
| A spokesman for Liverpool Catholic Diocese said it had no comment on the project. | A spokesman for Liverpool Catholic Diocese said it had no comment on the project. |