Rutter on religion

Listening to John Rutter in conversation with Donald Macleod in Composer of the Week, I was intrigued by Rutter's comments on religion. I'd expected someone whose music is so firmly rooted in the church — carols and glorias and anthems — to be deeply religious.

But not a bit of it. Rutter describes himself as an agnostic who, despite his love of the ceremonies of the church, can't quite bring himself to believe — although, when composing, he says he is able to enter the religious mindset completely, just as artists have to do to be able to express views not their own.