The irony of the poem is further emphasized by the structure of the poem, a traditional hymn. John Betjeman shows the woman as not only a selfish person but also a racist who believes that her race is superior. “Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans” “And, even more, protect the whites”. This may have been intentionally included to show that the rich were not only the ones who favored most from the church, but also the most selfish.
In “Church Going”, the poet expresses the same disrespectfulness towards church as “In Westminster Abbey”.
The Church, also known as the house of God, is seen by the poet as a current building and all being alike, “another church: matting, seats, and stone…” some brass and stuff” which gives the reader a very dismissive attitude from the poet. He agrees with Betjeman that the church disserves no believe or respect “Hatless, I take off my cycle-clips in awkward reverence”.
Instead of commenting on the beauty of the church, he looks at the roof asking himself if it is “cleaned, or restored?” It seems that the poet is even more disrespectful than Betjeman donating an Irish sixpence and then further emphasizing, “reflect the place was not worth stopping for”.
The poet is for sure that churches will fall down except for some, which will be kept as a chronic symbol where women will bring their children to touch a particular stone believing that they will work as a spell. His opinion is that “superstition, like belief, must die”. This supposes a strong blow against the church and towards believe.
Philip Larkin asks himself who will be the last to see the church before it deteriorates completely “some ruin-bibber” some “Christmas-addict” someone obsessed with church or someone just like him who has no believe or sympathy with the church.
For the poet, the church is the place of marriage, birth and death and believes that that causes people to become fanatic towards church because they see it as the place that marks the most important points of life.
Larkin also sees the church trying to make people see natural things of life such as birth and having children as being in their destiny and that people will always look for the spiritual side.
In conclusion, I would say that the poets are conscious of the poetic diction they use in order to bring through their feelings about the church. They do not see any reason or need for which religion and believe exist and want superstition to be gotten rid of. They see the Church as a place, which manipulates people for their own benefit.
The use of less poetic devices such as “oh bomb the Germans” in “In Westminster Abbey” or “bored, uniformed, knowing the ghostly silt” in “Church Going” does not suggest that this in any way makes the poems less “poetic” in any sense at all. John Betjeman and Philip Larkin seem to be wanting the readers to be aware of the church and protect them from it.
