Worship, Revised and Expanded Edition: Reformed according to Scripture

by Hughes Oliphant Old

With the coming of Pietism, hymnody came to a new flowering. In fact, it is in the field of hymnody that Pietism has made one of its most lasting contributions to Christian worship. In Germany toward the close of the seventeenth century Pietism came to its classic expression in the ministry of Philipp Spener (1635–1705) and August Hermann Francke (1663–1727). Putting an emphasis on religion as an inward personal experience, Pietism preached and practiced holiness of life, simple devotional disciplines, and practical charity. The backbone of the Pietist movement was the small group fellowship where faith was nurtured by an intimate sharing of one’s religious experiences, Bible study, extemporaneous prayer, and, as the movement developed, the singing of hymns.