Sir, - Dr Brian Fitzpatrick writes that "Many readers will be surprised to learn that God Save the Queen appears in hymn books used by the Church of Ireland" ("Rite and Reason", July 14th). Such a sense of surprise is unnecessary. God Save the Queen is a hymn as well as a national anthem. It can be found in hymnals in common use in the Church of England.
The version of God Save the Queen in use today is entirely devoid of sectarian sentiments, it was sung recently at a celebration of the Catholic Mass in Rochester Cathedral in commemoration of St John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was martyred during the reign of Henry VIII. I hope that many of your readers will not be surprised to learn that the liturgy of the Church of Ireland contains prayers for the President as well as for the Queen. - Yours, etc., C. D. C. Armstrong,
Belfast, Co Antrim.