A POTENTIAL English national anthem which was lost to history for more than half a century has been rediscovered and re-recorded to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

The song, simply titled England, was written by Hubert Parry, who also penned the patriotic hymn Jerusalem, in 1918 – the last year of his life – borrowing the words of John of Gaunt’s monologue from William Shakespeare’s play Richard II.

The anthem was rediscovered by Professor Jeremy Dibble, of Durham University, who is an expert on Parry’s work.

He said: “England is a big, patriotic, unison song right up there with Jerusalem.

“It is all about a collective national pride, chivalry and idealism, like Jerusalem.

“Few people seem to know the song now. It may have been the disappearance of the piano from assemblies in schools, a decline in collective singing, coupled with changing times in the post-colonial world that led to its decline.

“England, the song, is more than just ‘flying the flag’.

Parry was interested in and motivated by British values and democracy.

“Like Jerusalem, its rousing tune expresses a sense of vision, self-sacrifice and hope, typical of Parry’s own outlook.”

The first modern recording of England is included on a CD to be released later this year to celebrate the diamond jubilee.

The disc, featuring the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, also includes a recording of Jerusalem which Prof Dibble believes is the first for nearly a century performed as it was originally conceived.

Parry intended the hymn’s first verse for a solo voice rather than the grand choral performances typical of The Last Night of the Proms, said Prof Dibble, with the second verse intended for “all available voices”.

The new CD also includes the bridal march from The Birds, played at the Queen’s wedding; the Coronation Te Deum for George V in 1911; and Parry’s Magnificat, dedicated to Queen Victoria on her diamond jubilee in 1897.

It will be released by Chandos Records in October.

England has no official anthem, using the British national anthem God Save The Queen on most occasions.

England (by Hubert Parry)

This royal throne of Kings, this sceptred island,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This fortress, built by Nature for her purpose,
Against infection and the hand of wars:

This demi-Paradise, this other Eden,
This precious stone set in a silver sea,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
We highly dedicate, O Lord, to Thee.

Grant, Lord, that England and her sister nations,
Together bound by the triumphant sea,
May be renown’d through all recorded ages,
For Christian service and true chivalry