Winston Churchill died 50 years ago. His funeral was one of the great pageants of the 20th century. Marching bands, military processions, worship in glorious St. Paulâ??s Cathedral, the reverent attendance of prime ministers, royalty and presidents. Among them was Dwight Eisenhower, who served alongside Churchill as both general and chief executive and whose eulogy of his â??old friendâ? (and frequent sparring partner) was broadcast to America. And there was Charles de Gaulle, who was a stately ornament also at funerals for JFK and Ike, and had been both ally and nemesis to Churchill.
The Church of England funeral service was magnificently choreographed. Some claim Churchill was religiously indifferent. Heâ??s said to have called himself a flying buttress, supporting the church from the outside. The truth of his faith is likely more complex than commonly realized. Certainly he relished the drama of liturgical worship and great hymns, both of which applied to his funeral, for which he had left some instruction, promising, â??There will be lively hymns.â? They were â??O God Our Help in Ages Past,â? â??Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might,â? â??Who Would True Valour See,â? and â??The Battle Hymn of the Republic,â? sometimes said to be Churchillâ??s special favorite.
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