A Christmas carol in the Anglican hymnal `Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard' is causing quite a stir in some Island churches due to its allegedly racist lyrics.

But other church members see no problem with the hymn if its lyrics -- intended as satire -- are read in context.

Verse four of hymn 400, written by Sydney Carter and published in 1984 by Canterbury Press, reads: "Jesus Christ has gone to heaven; one day he'll be coming back, sir. In this house he will be welcome, but we hope he won't be black, sir.'' Dr. Arnold Hollis, Archdeacon of Bermuda and Rector of Sandys Parish, highlighted the offensive verse in the March issue of Bermuda Diocesan News, a monthly guide to Anglican church events and news.

He said that in church efforts to be people-pleasers and be `with it', many churches were replacing the `Hymns Ancient and Modern Standard Version' with hymnals such as `Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard'. Dr. Hollis wrote: "Of course, in this day and age, the last thing we would expect in these new publications is to find anything that would reflect, in an accepting way, the insidious and harmful notions that plague our present-day society.'' Satirical hymn raises hell Dr. Hollis continued: "We at St. James decided to invest in this new hymn book. On the surface it appeared to be okay, and none of the parishes using it, including the Cathedral, had given any indication that there was a most offensive, insidious and racially divisive verse in hymn 400, verse four.'' A Canterbury Press representative said that Chief Executive Officer Gordon Knight had responded to one complaint from Bermuda about the hymn, but no other complaints had been made.

She said when the hymn was taken in context, it is condemning the action described and saying that this type of behaviour and thinking is wrong.

The hymnal also contains a section in which the hymns are discussed and in reference to hymn 400, it says: "A piece of terrible yet necessary satire. It is not difficult to imagine it being quoted in a Christmas sermon: what is difficult is to imagine it being sung by everyone in a service at Christmas.'' But Dr. Hollis said what had upset him more than the offensive verse was that the person who brought it to his attention was someone of another religious persuasion.

Dr. Hollis could not be contacted for comment yesterday but also said in written criticism: "It is beyond my comprehension how Canterbury Press could have omitted an offensive verse in `All Things Bright an Beautiful', and inserted a hymn that would be sung in settings of bigotry and ignorance.'' Dr. Hollis added he has expressed his "grave concern'' to Canterbury Press and suggested they print small peel-off sheets the size of the verse, with the word "omit'' on them, and send them to all who have purchased the book.

Spokesman for the Diocese of Bermuda, Charles Webbe, said when he first read the hymn he was offended, but after re-reading it a couple of times he realised its satirical nature.

Mr. Webbe said that the author, Sydney Carter was a very respected and quite radical clergyman and that when he wrote the hymn sometime during the 1950s and 1960s, he was bringing to the attention of white church members the hypocrisy by which they were conducting themselves.

He said on one hand, white church members were embracing people of all ethnic backgrounds in their "united church'', but on the other hand they were not showing this in their behaviour.

Mr. Webbe said that Sydney Carter was attempting to let church members know that if they professed to have a united church, then they should live with it and be prepared for the event that Jesus Christ may come back as a black man.

Mr. Webbe said he did not take offence to the hymn as he had read it in its proper context and said local congregations should be made aware of the satirical nature of the hymn.

HYMN The full text of the hymn is as follows: Verse one: No use knocking on the window, there is nothing we can do, sir; all the beds are booked already, there is nothing left for you, sir: Chorus: Standing in the rain, knocking on the window, knocking on the window on a Christmas Day.

There he is again, knocking on the window in the same old way.

Verse two: No use knocking on the window, some are lucky, some are not, sir.

We are Christian men and women, but we're keeping what we've got, sir.

Verse three: No we haven't got a manger, no we haven't got a stable.

We are Christian men and women always willing, never able: Verse four: Jesus Christ has gone to heaven; one day he'll be coming back, sir.

In this house he will be welcome, but we hope he won't be black, sir: Verse five: Wishing you a merry Christmas we will now go back to bed, sir.

Till you woke us with your knocking we were sleeping like the dead, sir: