<< Back to the Alphabetic Index
See the Bulletin of the Hymn Society of Gt Britain & Ireland, No.148 (April 1980) pp.146-151
United Reformed Church hymn-books
(The United Reformed Church came into being in October 1972, from the former Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England. In 1980 it was joined by the Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ in the United Kingdom. The hymn-books of the U.R.C. reflect this constitution.)
See also
.END of note. Previous
. . .
Compiled by a Committee appointed from a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church in May 1986. A previous Assembly (May 1985) had authorised a group to consider in principle whether the U.R.C. should embark on the production of a new book to replace Congregational Praise, or rely on existing hymn-books of other denominations and syndicates. The group recommended the first alternative, which was accepted by the 1986 Assembly.
The chairman of the Editorial Committee was David Thompson, and the Committee appointed its own sub-committees for Texts, Music and Psalmody. From the outset, the Committee was requested to take into account the U.R.C. policy on the use of "inclusive language" in its official documents, which had been agreed by the General Assembly in 1984. [For a further note about this policy, click here . . .]
The hymn-book begins with material (responsive texts, some with music settings) for a full service of Communion, followed by 648 hymns, 67 psalms (or portions of psalms), and 26 Canticles. The psalms are in various forms: some in the prose version of the American Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, 1979; some from the edition of The Grail, and some in metrical versions ranging from the 16th century to the present day. Apart from the "Grail" versions which have their own music settings, the psalms are set out both for responsive reading and for chanting - the latter either to anglican chants or to Gregorian tones. A few of the Canticles are for responsive reading only and have no music settings. The book ends with the text of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds and the (1990) Statement of the Nature, Faith and Order of the United Reformed Church, and a final nod to tradition in the shape of the National Anthem of the United Kingdom.
To view the Preface, click here . . .
For Xrefs to hymns or tunes written for, or first published in, Rejoice & Sing, click here . . .
.END of note. Previous
. . .
Prepared following a decision of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church in 1973.
With the formation of the U.R.C. in 1972, two main hymn-books were in general use among the constituent churches: namely the Church Hymnary (Revised edition 1927, followed later by the Third edition in 1973), and Congregational Praise (with, here and there, the 1916 Congregational Hymnary and even the 1886 "Barrett" hymnal still to be found). As an initial step in consolidation of the union of the two denominations, New Church Praise was produced as a Supplement to the existing books. It contained 109 hymns, mainly but not entirely of recent composition, musical settings of parts of the Communion service, and a full Order of Service for the latter including congregational responses.
It was published in Full Music and Melody editions, but no "words-only" version - a practice later to be followed in the initial production of Rejoice and Sing.
The Editorial Committee was chaired by Peter Cutts, with David Gardner as Secretary.
To view the editorial prefaces to the book, click here . . .
.END of note. Previous
. . .
Brief notes on the hymns and tunes in New Church Praise, originally serialised in the U.R.C. magazine Reform in 1975 and 1976 following publication of the hymn-book itself. (Peter Cutts had been chairman of the Editorial Committee of NCP.)
.END of note. Previous
. . .
The original University Carol Books were edited by S.Baring-Gould and Edgar Pettman, and published from 1922 onwards by A.W.Ridley & Co. In the 1950's they were re-issued in a series of booklets, each containing six to eight carols, published by E.H.Freeman, Brighton. At least 12 of these booklets appeared, price one shilling each, and containing altogether 85 carols.
Many of the carols were "traditional", translated and/or arranged by a number of different contributors. They were collected into a single volume by Erik Routley in the edition headlined above.
.END of note. Previous
. . .
Tunes headed with this description of their "source" are those found in A Students' Hymnal / Hymns of the Kingdom (q.v.). They were included in that collection by Walford Davies, who found or was given them as part of traditional material current in the University at the time (or, in some cases, as "collaborative" compositions by members of the University).
.END of note. Previous
. . .
.END of note. Previous
. . .
|
.END of note. Previous . . . |
|
There may be a Manchester connection for this book, William Holford having been Choirmaster at St Clement's Church, Manchester. The under- mentioned tune appeared two years later in John Houldsworth's Cheetham's Psalmody; the names `Houldsworth' and `Cheetham' also suggest a Manchester link.
.END of note. Previous
. . .
Melchior Vulpius (1570-1615):
(a) Cantiones Sacrae, 1602-04
(b) Kirchengesänge und geistliche Lieder, 1604 &c.
(c) Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch, Jena 1609
- Xrefs:
- RS-313 Jena
- RS-238 Vulpius
.END of note. Previous
. . .
End of File. Return to Top . . .
END of Source Books U-V
<< Back to the Alphabetic Index
(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 11/8/02)