The Book of Hymns
Encyclopedia
The Book of Hymns was the official hymnal
of The Methodist Church, later the United Methodist Church
, in the United States of America, until it was replaced in 1989 by The United Methodist Hymnal
. Published in 1966 it replaced The Methodist Hymnal, published in 1935, as the official hymnal of the church.
There is a dispute as to the proper title of this book. The cover has the title The Book of Hymns but that is the only place in the book where that title appears. The title page has The Methodist Hymnal: Official Hymnal of the United Methodist Church. The Book of Discipline
, as well as other official publications, refer to the hymnal as The Book of Hymns. When it was published it had the title The Methodist Hymnal. Two years after publication the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church
(EUB) merged; the EUB was using a hymnal published in 1957. A special session of the General Conference
, in 1970, changed the name to The Book of Hymns and assured those who had belonged to the EUB that their hymnal would remain in print. The EUB hymnal was also considered to be (until 1989) an official hymnal of The United Methodist Church.
The Book of Hymns was approved unanimously by the 1964 General Conference. The 1960 General Conference authorized the Commission on Worship to appoint a hymnal committee to revise the official hymnal. The 29 member committee, chaired by Edwin E. Voigt, had a dozen consultants, with the hymnal edited by Carlton R. Young. The book contains 539 texts with 402 tunes of which 122 texts and 119 tunes which previously had not been included. The hymnal has been described as a prescriptive as opposed to a descriptive hymnal, meaning that the hymns and liturgy were meant to shape and mode worship and prescribe what is sung and done.
It contains most, but not all, of the section in The Book of Worship for Church and Home
titled Acts of Praise. Musical settings for parts of the Lord's Supper, the worship service and for the canticles were included. The book was noted for adding the word Amen to the end of most of the hymns.
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
of The Methodist Church, later the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, in the United States of America, until it was replaced in 1989 by The United Methodist Hymnal
United Methodist Hymnal
The United Methodist Hymnal is the hymnal used by The United Methodist Church. It was first published in 1989 as the first hymnal for The United Methodist Church after the 1968 merger of The Methodist Church with The Evangelical United Brethren Church...
. Published in 1966 it replaced The Methodist Hymnal, published in 1935, as the official hymnal of the church.
There is a dispute as to the proper title of this book. The cover has the title The Book of Hymns but that is the only place in the book where that title appears. The title page has The Methodist Hymnal: Official Hymnal of the United Methodist Church. The Book of Discipline
Book of Discipline (United Methodist)
The Book of Discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. It follows similar works for its predecessor denominations....
, as well as other official publications, refer to the hymnal as The Book of Hymns. When it was published it had the title The Methodist Hymnal. Two years after publication the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church
Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Evangelical United Brethren Church was an American Protestant church which was formed in 1946 by the merger of the Evangelical Church with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
(EUB) merged; the EUB was using a hymnal published in 1957. A special session of the General Conference
General conference (United Methodist Church)
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is the denomination's top legislative body for all matters affecting the United Methodist connection...
, in 1970, changed the name to The Book of Hymns and assured those who had belonged to the EUB that their hymnal would remain in print. The EUB hymnal was also considered to be (until 1989) an official hymnal of The United Methodist Church.
The Book of Hymns was approved unanimously by the 1964 General Conference. The 1960 General Conference authorized the Commission on Worship to appoint a hymnal committee to revise the official hymnal. The 29 member committee, chaired by Edwin E. Voigt, had a dozen consultants, with the hymnal edited by Carlton R. Young. The book contains 539 texts with 402 tunes of which 122 texts and 119 tunes which previously had not been included. The hymnal has been described as a prescriptive as opposed to a descriptive hymnal, meaning that the hymns and liturgy were meant to shape and mode worship and prescribe what is sung and done.
It contains most, but not all, of the section in The Book of Worship for Church and Home
Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965)
The Book of Worship for Church and Home 1965 was the second liturgical book of The Methodist Church, replacing the 1945 book of the same name. This book was replaced in 1992 with The United Methodist Book of Worship....
titled Acts of Praise. Musical settings for parts of the Lord's Supper, the worship service and for the canticles were included. The book was noted for adding the word Amen to the end of most of the hymns.