IT COULD have been worse. It could have been Eminem, in which case the vicar might have had a point. Instead, a vicar in Cheshire banned a couple from having Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country at their wedding, claiming they were nationalistic and inappropriate.

But at least people know the tunes.

And you'd have thought, as far as the vicar was concerned, that would have been half the battle. Jerusalem, especially, is one you can really belt out. It's the sort of hymn that makes a joyful congregation sing their hearts out to get a young couple off to a good start.

How much better than one of those cringe-making, feet-shuffling coughing sort of hymns which nobody knows, when a quavery old lady wavers on alone off-key while the rest of us work out how many more lines of torture there are to go.

And while not obviously geared for a wedding, the sentiments of Jerusalem are irreproachable, even though the vicar seems to have entirely missed the point. What better way for a couple to start off than by vowing to fight for social justice and a Christian society? Seems a sight better than concerning themselves with such material matters as the three-piece suite and the dishwasher.

The Rev Donald Allister says Jerusalem is not a hymn and I Vow To Thee My Country is suitable only for national occasions. The fact that Diana, Princess of Wales, chose it for her wedding was, he says "appropriate because that was a great national occasion, not a normal wedding".

He says the choice of music for a wedding is not solely for the couple involved to decide, but should be a joint decision with the church.

Mr Allister is clearly a man of strong principle, as one would hope from a vicar. But his principles seem stronger than most - he has condemned homosexuals in the church, the Royal Family in general, Prince Charles in particular, and has refused to accept Lottery money as it encourages gambling.

But while strong principles are, generally, to be admired, they can be off-putting too. Fewer people are getting married in church. Now they can opt for hotels or mountain tops, tropical beaches or football pitches with everyone in fancy dress and sky-divers parachuting in just after the vows, the church is no longer first, or even second, choice.

One couple recently got married underwater on the wreck of the Titanic. Now Mr Allister, that's what I would call inappropriate.

Victoria Williams and Stuart Turton have now chosen to get married in another church - presumably one which will accept their choice of music. But they could easily have gone for the sky-diving fancy dress option. Would Mr Allister have felt happy then? The church should be welcoming people, not driving them away.

Of course, the vicar should have a right of veto over what is said or sung in church but as weddings - and funerals - become more personal, more original and, ultimately, more meaningful, then perhaps Mr Allister should learn to relax a little too.

And, in the meantime, maybe he should read the words to Jerusalem and find out what it's really all about.