Favourite Hymns

by Marjorie Reeves, Jenyth Worsley

Many hymns are great poems in their own right - they take us out of the daily round by expressing in images those feelings or thoughts which most of us find hard to put into words. But to know a little of the personal and cultural context from which they spring greatly enriches what is communicated in the act of congregational singing. It is with this in mind that Marjorie Reeves and Jenyth Worsley have brought together a unique collection of songs of worship that come from all ages and traditions, ranging from the early centuries of Christianity through to the present day.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2001

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

As you might gather from the title, the compilers of this anthology of "favourite" hymns are British. The compilation extends from the earliest days of Christianity to late in the 20th century. Perhaps the most interesting discovery for me was how far back some hymns still sung today -- even in "contemporary" worship -- go. "Be Thou My Vision," for example, dates back to the 5th century. In almost any church in America, you might have sung it last week.
In general, I found that the older the hymns were, the move depth, meaning and magnificence there was to them. The newer hymns -- meaning, in this book, those penned in the latter half of the 20th century -- are comparatively lame and shallow, both lyrically and musically.
The enigmatic cover art -- the girls appear to be in a choir, but each seems to be in her own world, and what is it with all that red hair? -- comes from the artwork "Alleluia" by Thomas Cooper Gotch and can be seen at the Tate Gallery in London. The next time I'm in London, I think I'll check it out.