Hymn Singing | The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Short Guide No 1: What is the Point of Singing Hymns?

Hymn-singing as an activity is admittedly nowhere near as common as it once was, and that is probably true inside churches as well as beyond their walls. So what is the point of singing hymns? Here are ten benefits worth bearing in mind. Hymn-singing is Physical This may seem a strange thing to say, yet it is true. When we …

Treasure No 72: What are we saying by singing?

Treasure No 72: What are we saying by singing? By Rowan Williams An article from Bulletin 249, October 2006 (A transcript of the paper given to the Conference of the Society in July 2006, printed with the author’s permission) chose that title because I am aware that there is a kind of assumption very often around in the church and …

Bulletin 243 Volume 17 No10 April 2005

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Bulletin 242 Volume 17 No9 January 2005

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Treasure No 56: Ten Golden Rules

Treasure No 56: Ten Golden Rules by John Bell: An article from Bulletin 185, Autumn 1990, for enabling the least confident of people to teach new songs to the most cynical of congregations Believe in the voice which God has given you. It is the voice of an apprentice angel. Believe in the voices God has given other people. Years …

Bulletin 183 Volume 12 No10 April 1990

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Treasure No 55: Hymns in the Early Church

Treasure No 55: Hymns in the Early Church by John Ferguson: An article from Bulletin 180, Summer 1989 (Adapted from an address given to the William Temple Society, York) the ancient Greek world a hymn was a metrical address to a god. In Homer’s Iliad (1.472–4) we read: They all day long sought to appease the god in song, …

Bulletin 171 Volume 11 No10 April 1987

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Bulletin 167 Volume 11 No6 April 1986

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Treasure No 42: The Hymn Today

Treasure No 42: The Hymn Today: An article from Bulletin 138, Winter 1977 Under this title a symposium was presented at the Society’s Conference at Norwich last year. Here we print the substance of what each speaker said on that occasion (or, more accurately, what he would have said had time allowed). i. The Challenge of the Words by Brian …

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

1 week ago

A new hymn text regarding the Coronavirus pandemic by Committee Member Graham Deans is now on the website: hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2020/03/coronavirus-hymn/ ... See MoreSee Less

A Coronavirus Hymn

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

As now a global crisis Has brought us to our knees, We pray for those affected By illness and disease. Amid their pain and suffering Anxieties abound; They look in vain for comfort As help...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

2 weeks ago

Sad news, but understandable in the circumstances...
A message from HSGBI Hon. Sec., Revd Robert Canham:

Dear Hymn Society Members,

It is with considerable regret that I have to notify you of the cancellation of our 2020 Hymn Society Leyland Conference. This was to have taken place from 14th – 17th July 2020; it is yet another casualty of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, having considered all aspects, the Officers have concluded, given that the situation is so entirely uncertain, and at present deteriorating, and with many of our Conference attendees being within the ‘over 70s’ and vulnerable’ categories, that it was really the only sensible and responsible course of action to take. It does seem that the situation is likely to continue both within the UK and elsewhere for a good many months yet, if not for the rest of the year.

The decision had to be taken now in order to mitigate our contractual responsibilities with the hotel who have, it has to be said, been extremely helpful and understanding.

Our present intention is to hold our next Conference, still at Leyland and with the Festival of Hymns in Blackburn Cathedral, from Tuesday, 20th – Friday, 23rd July 2021. Do, please, pencil a note in the back of your current diaries. We will certainly hope that by then everything will have settled down and that it will be possible to meet.

Deposits for bookings which have already been made, of which there are a good number, will of course be refunded.

I will conclude with a thought shared by one of our members who would have been contributing to this year’s Conference: ‘In the meantime, we shall go on singing, praying, and remembering each other, in our own homes.’

We hope that you all keep as well as possible and wish you every Blessing,

Robert A. Canham
Secretary, The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland ... See MoreSee Less

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 weeks ago

‘This sudden Sabbath gives us pause’ – a response to the Coronavirus crisis. A new text from Andrew Pratt:

This sudden Sabbath gives us pause
to rest and to reflect.
What is the focus of our lives
and what is its effect?
We live within a common world,
whatever race or creed;
for things maintaining life and health,
we share a common need.

For some a love of God becomes the
centre of their prayer,
but such a love’s a hollow boast
when neighbours have no care.
The early Christians took the lead
of Jesus as their style,
to hold in common all they had,
to go the second mile.

When people safe-guard all they have,
while others queue in fear,
when those who have are given more,
while hunger’s drawing near;
where is our faith, our common love,
as cries become more stark,
when poverty crowds round our door,
the future clouded, dark?

Now is the moment for us all
to live what we confess,
to live within community
the faith that we profess.
Then let us stand as one with all
we share a common birth,
that on until eternity
love holds each life on earth.

Andrew Pratt 18/3/2020 – In response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Tune: COE FEN; SOLL’S SEIN

Words © 2020 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England

Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2020/03/this-sudden-sabbath-gives-us-pause-a-response-to-the-coronavirus-cr... ... See MoreSee Less

‘This sudden Sabbath gives us pause’ – a response to the Coronavirus crisis:

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

This sudden Sabbath gives us pause to rest and to reflect. What is the focus of our lives and what is its effect? We live within a common world, whatever race or creed; for things...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

3 weeks ago

Angela Tilby: Hymns heterodox and modern

www.churchtimes.co.uk

THERE are those who believe that words used in worship, especially in hymns, should be immediately c...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

1 month ago

Stainer & Bell are hiring! ... See MoreSee Less

Come and work for us! – Stainer & Bell

stainer.co.uk

Come and work for us! 26 February 2020 Announcements CHORAL AMBASSADOR (New Post) As a prime mover in British music for over a century, Stainer & Bell are seeking to employ a part-time Choral Ambassador to enhance the company’s historic presence on the musical scene, both by promotion of the exist...

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

1 month ago

It is with great pleasure we announce that our member and former Executive Committee member, The Rev'd Dr Gordon Giles, will be taking up a new post at Rochester Cathedral as Canon Chancellor. Gordon has served as the vicar of St Mary Magdalene, Enfield for the past 17 years and was serving at St Paul's Cathedral prior to his appointment at St Mary Magdalene. He will be taking up the new position in June and we wish Gordon, Jessica and Maria all the very best for their future in Rochester. We're sure God will open the path for Gordon to be effective in his new role. He will be greatly missed by the members of St Mary Magdalene for his compassion and leadership. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

1 month ago

Secretary’s Newsletter 83 Winter 2020 is now available on the HSGBI website: hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/2020/02/secretarys-newsletter-83-winter-2020/ ... See MoreSee Less

Secretary’s Newsletter 83 Winter 2020

hymnsocietygbi.org.uk

The Secretary’s Newsletter: No.83: Winter 2020 From the Secretary: Revd Robert A. Canham Windrush Braithwaite KESWICK CA12 5SZ Phone: 017687 78054 Email: Please see our Contact page The Hymn Society Website: www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk The Hymn Society’s...

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