Church Going by Philip Larkin
In Philip Larkins poem, "Church Going," Mr. Larkin depicts the confusion of an individual, the persona, who is compelled to enter the churches he sees on his bicycle rides. ... Larkin uses the persona to describe his feelings toward religion. ... The holy, "ceremonious," view the church takes, versus the belief in the pure spirituality. The persona although drawn to the church seems to be mocking it once inside. His descriptions of the hymnals as "little books," and the altar as "the holy end," demean the sanctity of the church.