I have found the Center for Church Music (http://songsandhymns.org/) a useful source of information about the stories and Scripture behind hymns.

Thanks for the comments.

Matt, I tried the link and found it helpful. Mind you there are now some great hymn websites resources out there. In researching stories behind hymns and their authors, I have found it helpful to check more than one website, because I have occasionally found errors. It is also wise to check whether the lyrics are in public domain or in copyright, especially with more recent hymns, before re-printing lyrics, especially on websites, which are not covered by typical CCL type licences.

Hi Gary, and thanks for making me think about the spread of dates. Being a pedant I discovered that of the twelve I listed, actually half were older and half were younger than 200 years age in terms of the date of writing (or where uncertain, first publication).

I am not quite sure about your claim that hardly anyone has severed itself from continuity with the past more than parts of the Christian church in their music.

Allowing for a bit of hyperbole, which we don’t mind around here, can you say a bit more about what you are getting at, and at what sort of churches the comment is directed?

Do you think it applies to the sort of selection I gave? And if so, do you have some suggestions about classic hymns (i.e. warmly recognisable hymns with recognisable and singable tunes) from earlier centuries?

And where would you think something (relatively) modern like Timothy Dudley-Smith’s “Tell Out My Soul”, from the 20th century but based on Mary’s song in Luke 1 fits in? Is that not a connection to the historic church and most importantly to the Scriptures.

Hi Gary, yep I am clearer now what you are meaning and right with you.

When I was on my long service leave in January, I attended a church, where my friend is the pastor. It was the first Sunday of the year, so many were away on holidays and I talked to a bloke after church and trying to be positive, complimented the husband and wife duo who led the singing on piano and voice. They did really well.

The bloke I was talking to said that he didn’t find the music very inspirational at the church. I said that I thought they had a balance of hymns and modern songs (which reflected the variation in ages in the congregation).

He said he wasn’t interested in anything more than ten years old! I kid you not. A ten year max.

I explained about hymn of the month and how popular it had been, even with our evening service full of young adults.

He indicated he was from a charismatic background. I said the idea came from a charismatic church (which Sovereign Grace is, albeit of a Reformed variety). That still didn’t cut any mustard.

He eventually agreed others might quite enjoy older songs, but he just did not like them.

I wish I’d had the guts to tell him church is not “all about me”, and read him Philippians 2:3-5. But I was a guest and was dumbfounded at his self-absorption and so left it at that.

An after-afterthought…

Some great ideas and good resources listed on introducing hymns to contemporary congregations in this blog article by a bloke who shares a great surname, James Grant, here.