The Enchiridion

Companion to Congregational Praise

COMPANION TO

CONGREGATIONAL

PRAISE

Lecturer and Chaplain of

Mansfield College, Oxford

PREFACE

The Apostle bids us "pray with the understanding". The object of this Companion is that we may "sing with the understanding". Notes are here provided on every hymn, tune, author and composer in Congregational Praise. The notes on the hymns and authors are by the Editor, those on the tunes and composers by Dr. Routley. Readers who are familiar with the Handbook to the Church Hymnary (1930, Supplement 1936) will recognise at once how indebted we are to that admirable work. We have not only adopted the general plan and arrangement of the Handbook, but we have made full use of the historical and biographical material therein contained. We would also mention in particular the work of Archibald Jacob on the tunes in Songs of Praise Discussed (1933). For his sources this author relies on the Handbook to the Church Hymnary, but he adds many critical comments from which we have taken several quotations by kind permission of the Oxford University Press. The Companion (published in 1949) to the Hymnal 1940 of the American Episcopal Church embodies a good deal of original research of which we have gratefully availed ourselves. Of earlier works we would mention especially The Music of the Church Hymnary (1901), by Cowan and Love, and J.T.Lightwood's The Music of the Methodist Hymn Book (1935) and Hymn Tunes and their Story (1905). Like all other workers in this field, we have found Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology (revised edition, 1907) and the Historical Edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1909) to be indispensable. Our indebtedness to other writers is indicated in the list of authorities consulted.

The General Introduction was written by the Rev. A.G.Matthews for this work. It was printed separately and published under the title, Introducing Congregational Praise, in order that is might be available at the time when the hymn-book was pub;ished. The chapter on Congregational Hymnody entitled "Congregational Praise, some Back Numbers", was written by the late Dr. A.J.Grieve, who died while this book was going through the press. Dr. Grieve was a member of the Editorial Committee of Congregational Praise, and all my colleagues on that committee would wish to join me in paying tribute to the help that he gave us. His profound scholarship, his wide knowledge, his breadth of outlook and his deep understanding of the life of our churches have left their mark on the finished work. We are proud to think that his last piece of work, done amid many infirmities of sickness and old age, enriches the pages of this Companion.

Miss Elsie Spriggs gave great assistance to the editorial committee in the selection of hymns for children, and she was asked to write a short chapter explaining the principles upon which the selection was made.

We are much indebted to the Rev. Maurice Frost of Deddington, Oxfordshire (the author of English and Scottish Psalm and Hymn Tunes, c. 1543-1677) for his generous and expert guidance in the preparation of the musical notes. His splendid library and his unrivalled knowledge of sources have been freely at our disposal. For the verification of sates we have had much ready and courteous help from Mr Robert F.Newton. We owe a special debt of gratitude to the Rev. A.G.Matthews, who read all the notes on hymns and authors in manuscript and made many helpful suggestions, and who also read the proofs of the whole work.

We are indebted to Mr Bernard Honess, Managing Director of Independent Press Ltd., for much encouragement and help; to the printer who has so skilfully deciphered our manuscript, and to the reader who corrected the proofs with such an obvious and intelligent interest in our work.

Perhaps a word may be said about the title, Congregational Praise. It was first used as the title of a small selection of hymns published as a pamphlet some years ago by the Independent Press containing hymns from the Congregational Hymnary and Songs of Praise. It seemed to the editorial committee a happy title for a hymn-book prepared primarily for the use of Congregational churches in Great Britain and overseas. But it is hoped that the word "Congregational" in the title will not be interpreted in any denominational sense. It is intended to emphasise the fact that a hymn is intended to be sung by the worshipping congregation. The only respect in which Congregational Praise bears the mark of its denominational origin is that it contains more of the hymns of Isaac Watts than are to be found in most modern hymn-books. But the hymns of Isaac Watts are among the treasures of Christendom, and it is hoped that Congregational Praise will be welcomed wherever the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" is expressed in song.

K.L.PARRY.

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 16/6/03)