A strong Methodist upbringing was the bedrock from which Lady Thatcher built her political creed of self-reliance and personal responsibilty.
A favourite quote was that of Methodist founder John Wesley: “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
Lady Thatcher, who knew hundreds of hymns by heart, chose childhood favourites to reflect her fortitude, patriotism and devotion. Charles Wesley’s call to Christian perfection Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and John Bunyan’s burly He Who Would Valiant Be will be sung during the service which ends with the rousing I Vow To Thee My Country from the poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice.
Yet it is to German composer Johannes Brahms that Lady Thatcher turned to pay tribute to her husband. The serene How Lovely Are Thy Dwelling Places, Psalm 84, set to music by Brahms, will be sung, as it was during Sir Denis’s funeral in 2003.
Prime Minister David Cameron will read a passage from the Gospels, John 14.1.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
Beloved family at heart of the grandest funeral | UK | News | Daily Express
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