Extracts from Assembly Reports and Minutes of the Congregational Union of England & Wales, from copies of the Annual Year Books in Dr Williams's Library, London.
[For separate files covering all Year Books 1846-1955, click here > > ]
Reports reproduced here (note: the "year" is the cover year of the Year Book containing the reports, which relate to the May Assembly of the previous calendar year and to the twelve months ended at that Assembly date). "CYB" here = Congregational Year Book.
- 1884
- 1885
- 1886
- 1887
- 1888
- 1889
- 1890
- 1891-1907 (none relevant)
- 1908
- 1909
- 1910
- 1911-1925 (none relevant)
- 1926
- 1927
- 1928-1936 (none relevant)
- 1937
- 1938
CYB 1884 p.9 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 7th May 1883
. . .
A demand has for some time been made from several quarters for the publication of a Hymnal, with or without music, which might be used by congregations who prefer it to the "Congregational Hymn Book", and the Committee has agreed to the appointment of a Special Committee to consider and report how such a work should be compiled and published.
CYB 1885 p.9 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 6th May 1884
. . .
The Special Committee appointed to make arrangements for the compilation and publication of a Hymnal for the use of those churches which desire a substitute fopr the present Congregational hymn-book, has made considerable progress in its labours, but has not yet completed them. It will probably be able, however, to present a final report at the meeting of the Committee in the month of July.
CYB 1886 p.6 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 11th May 1885
. . .
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNAL. -- The "Congregational Hymnal" which is being prepared by the Rev. G.S.Barrett, B.A., aided by a consultative committee, is making steady progress, the editor's independent labour in the selection of hymns being nearly completed. The intention of the Committee is that the Hymnal shall include about 800 hymns, all available for congregational use, a selection of psalms, pointed for chanting, and a limited number of anthems. The editor has adopted the principle of ascertaining, when possible, the original text, and, as far as practicable, adhering to it. Editions will be published with music, and other editions with the hymns and the words of the chants and anthems only. he musical editorship has been undertaken by E.J.Hopkins, Esq., Mus. Doc., Organist to the Hon. Societies of the Inner and Middle Temples, with whom the final responsibility will rest in the selection and arrangement of tunes, but who will be assisted by a consultative committee composed of Congregational organists and choir-leaders, whose experimental knowledge will, it is assumed, secure the adoption of a body of music specially fitted to serve the churches as a vehicle and aid of their worship. It is not intended on the publication of the Hymnal to withdraw the Congregational Hymn-Book, or to limit the facilities which now exist for obtaining it in convenient forms and at a cheap rate. So long as it is saleable it will be kept in stock.
CYB 1887 p.8 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 10th May 1886
. . .
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HYMNAL. -- The Committee hopes in the course of the autumn to publish the new collection of Hymns, Chants and Anthems, with music, which has been for some time in preparation. The whole will be published in one volume; but there will also be editions in two volumes - the first containing hymns only, with and without music; and the second chants, anthems, &c., only with and without music. Amid the multitude of hymn-books and hymnals in the market, it has been difficult to frame an appropriate and distinctive title. The following, however, has been finally agreed upon as the leading title - "Congregational Church Hymnal."
It will be published in editions of different size and cost, so as to meet the requirements of all, and it is hoped and believed that it will meet a want which has been long felt in the churches.
CYB 1888 p.10 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 9th May 1887
. . .
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HYMNAL. -- The Committee hoped, at the date of the last Report, that the new Hymnal would, in all its editions, be in the hands of members of the Union before the close of last year. In this, as the event has proved, they took too sanguine a view of the progress it was possible to make. The determination of the editor to secure, in the musical department, work of the very highest order, both as to general quality and as to special fitness for Congregational worship; the enormous correspondence in dealing with between two and three hundred separate copyright interests, and the obstinate nature of the difficulties which sprang up in connection with some of these interests, have involved labour and delays beyond what was anticipated. The correspondence received at the office and by the editor reveals a state of expectation in regard to the book which borders on impatience. The Committee are sorry for the inconvenience to which some congregations which have been waiting for the book have been put; but they believe it will be found that no book, with any pretension to the same quantity and style of matter, has been produced in so short a time. The Committee are able to report that the first part, that which consists of hymns, with and without music, is now ready, and that, in a few days, copies of the several editions of this part may be had from the publishers, according to a price list which will be widely circulated. The second part, consisting of chants and anthems, has been unexpectedly delayed. The Committee were reluctant to publish the first part without the second, as both parts will be bound in one volume for the convenience of those who wish to have the book in that form; but the knowledge of the fact that some congregations which do not use chants or anthems, and others which are already supplied with chant and anthem books, which they intend to retain, are anxiously waiting for the Hymnal, led them to depart from their original intention. The edition with chants and anthems they hope to be able to announce in a few weeks.
. . .
ACCOUNTS. -- . . . There has been on the one hand a considerable decrease in profits on the sale of the Congregational Hymn-book, owing to the expectation that the Congregational Church Hymnal would soon be published; and on the other hand a considerable special outlay in connection with the production of the Hymnal. . . .
CYB 1889 p.6 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 7th May 1888
. . .
PUBLICATIONS. -- The Congregational Church Hymnal, though specimens of some of its editions were ready for inspection at the date of the last Annual Meeting, was not ready for sale in all its editions until the date of the Autumnal Meetings. The demand for the book has been very satisfactory, the sale down to date being about 80,000 copies; a larger number has been reported, but this rested on a miscalculation. The Committee find that in some quarters an impression exists that there is an intention at an early date to withdraw the Congregational Hymn-book, with Supplement, from sale. There is no such intention at present. As long as any considerable number of the churches continue to use that book the Committee feel bound to supply it, though they may from time to time withdraw editions which have ceased to have a remunerative sale.
CYB 1890 p.5 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 6th May 1889
. . .
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT. -- . . . There has also been published in the course of the year another edition of the "Congregational Church Hymnal," with music. Enquiries were constantly being made for a size between the crown 8vo and the royal 8vo. This has now been supplied by a medium 8vo. The sale of all publications has been satisfactory - that of the Hymnal down to date being about 200,000 copies.
Among publications contemplated is a "Mission Hymnal," with and without music. Our brethren who are specially engaged in conducting missions, and pastors who hold occasional missions in their own churches or neighbourhoods, have found the want of such a book, and have appealed to the Committee to supply it.. This they propose to do by the publication of a small book containing about 300 hymns, one of the editions of which they hope to be able to sell for a penny. They have asked the Rev. G.S.Barrett, the editor of the Hymnal, to undertake this work assisted by a Committee consisting of the following members: the Revs. W.A.Blake, R.F.Horton, E.T.Egg, Dr. Mackennal, C.A.Berry, T.G.Crippen, R.Balgarnie, Chas. New, T.F.T.Hallowes, Eric Lawrence, I. Morley Wright, W.Tidd Matson. It is also proposed to publish an enlarged edition, with and without music, of the Congregational Hymnal or Book of Praise for Young People, but this will be deferred until the Mission Hymnal has been got out of hand.
CYB 1891 p.9 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 12th May 1890
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- The Publication Department, as the balance-sheet which will be submitted to you shows, is amply justifying its establishment. The sales of the "Congregational Church Hymnal" for the year 1889 were 72,242 copies, making the total number issued thus far, in round numbers, a quarter of a million copies. The sale of the "Congregational Hymn-book" has, as a matter of course, considerably diminished, yet 46,486 copies were sold during the year. The sale of the "Book of Praise" amounted to 10,334 copies. . . . The "Congregational Mission Hymnal," edited as to the hymns by the Rev. G.S.Barrett, and as to the music by Mr. Joseph Barn[a]by, is now published in several editions. The Committee is hopeful that it will supply a desideratum which has been long felt. . . .
CYB 1892 p.8 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 11th May 1891
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- The Committee is glad to report the continued success of the Publication Department. The returns for the past year are hardly so large as in the previous year, but a falling off was only to be expected, as the Church Hymnal had been adopted by so many churches, and thus first orders have not been so numerous. The Mission Hymnal has been received with general satisfaction, and, up to the end of 1890, 28,532 copies were sold. The sale of the Church Hymnal for the year amounted to 68,468 copies, and for the old hymn book to 44,703. . . .
CYB 1893 p.7 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 9th May 1892
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- The Committee has again to report the success of the Publication Department. . . . No less than 71,000 copies were sold last year of the Congregational Church Hymnal, bringing the total sales to date up to 400,000. Of the Mission Hymnal over 37,000 copies were sold. The Sunday School Hymnal, published in August last, has been a marked success, upwards of 40,000 having been already disposed of. . . . The Congregational Hymn Book and Supplement is still used by a large number of churches, as may be gathered from the fact that nearly 40,000 copies were sold last year. . . .
REV. G.S.BARRETT. -- The Publication of the Congregational Sunday School Hymnal, and thus the completion of the service which, at the request of your Committee, Mr. Barrett undertook, seemed to afford a fitting opportunity to express appreciation of the way in which that service was rendered. The following resolution was adopted :--
The completion of the series of Hymnals for the use of the Churches, Sunday-schools and Mission services present to the Committee the oppotunity, which it gladly embraces, of placing on record its sense of the great value of the work thus performed by Rev. G.S.Barrett, B.A., the responsible editor of the whole series. Mr Barrett brought to the office a rare acquaintance with the subject, a keen and cultivated taste, and above all a deep devoional sympathy with all that is best in English Hymnology, which have enabled him to confer on the Union and the Churches a signal and lasting benefit. Most pleasing reports continually reach the Committee from those churches which have adopted the Hymnal; they speak of the assistance it has been and is to them, not only in the improvement of their musical service, but in the far higher respect of the deepening of their spiritual life; and the Committee congratulates Mr. Barrett on the filfilment of his arduous labours and the anticipation of the permanence of their admirable results. It further offers its hearty thanks to the several members of the Consultative Committees, whose co-operation with the editor conduced to the success of the enterprise.
CYB 1894 p.10 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 8th May 1893
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- The general business of the Publication Department has been well maintained. About 69,000 copies of the Hymnal have been sold, bringing up the total sales to half a million. The demand for 35,000 copies of the Congregational Hymn Book shows that the older work still retains an important place in our musical services. The disposal of 45,000 copies of the Sunday School Hymnal and of 32,000 of the Mission Hymnal is also satisfactory. . . .
CYB 1895 p.56 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 7th May 1894
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The sales of the Hymnal were 68,469, about the same as last year; but the demand for the Hymn Book has fallen from 35,000 to 30,000. The call for Sunday-school Hymnals was 36,422, and for Mission Hymnals 19,742. All things considered these sales are satisfactory, though it is a matter for regret that the excellency of the Mission Hymnal is not obtaining more rapid recognition. . . .
CYB 1896 p.56 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 6th May 1895
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The sales of the Hymnal were 68,718, as against 68,469 last year. The demand for the Hymn-book has again fallen, though not at the same rapid rate as in 1893, and amounted only to 29,175. The call for Sunday-school Hymnals was 37,875, and for Mission Hymnals 16,024. . . . the demand for Hymn-sheets for special services rose to 107,934. . . .
CYB 1897 p.58 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 11th May 1896
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The Church Hymnal has now been so generally adopted that a large number of those "first orders" which have been so profitable can no longer be expected. Moreover, the adoption of the Hymnal implies the discarding of the older Hymn-book. These considerations being kept in mind, an encouraging quantity of business has been done. The sales of the Hymnal were 66,819 copies, about 2,600 less than the year before. The demand for the Hymn-book fell to 24,124, a decrease of 5,000. There was an improved sale of the Sunday-school Hymnal amounting to 38,523 copies; and an increase of 1,500 in the call for Mission Hymnals, which rose to 17,571. . . . Of the hymn-sheets, a valuable aid to Special Services, 113,657 were cleared, . . .
CYB 1898 p.64 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 10th May 1897
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . Of the Hymnal 77,185 copies were sold, an increase in 1896 of more than 10,000 above the previous year, about one hundred additional churches having adopted this book. Of the older Hymn-Book 24,038 copies were in demand, an evidence that this work is not yet out of date. Of the Sunday School Hymnal tghe sale was 41,513, an advance of 3,000 copies on the previous year, and a further token of the growing popularity of the book. The sale of the Mission Hymnal is not equally encouraging. Only 9,593 copies have been sold. Yet apart from its main purpose as a high-class Mission-book, it is valuable as a suitable volume for Week-night Services, for Christian Endeavour Societies, for Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Gatherings, and for ordinary Bible-classes. . . . The Hymn-Sheets continue to render useful service; the call for the last-named again exceeded 100,000 copies.
CYB 1899 p.58 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 9th May 1898
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The sales of the Congregational Hymnal were 84,560, an increase on the previous year of 7,500 copies. Those of the Sunday School Hymnal rose to 45,451, an increase of 4,000. Those of the Mission Hymnal, a work whose popularity is now growing, amounted to 10,113, a small increase. The older Hymn Book continues to show diminished sales, although the rate of decrease is not so considerable as in recent years. . . . The Hymnal Sheets are still found useful; the sales being larger than ever.
CYB 1900 p.57 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 8th May 1899
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The transactions of 1898 show a slight falling off, principally in the sales of Church Hymnals, the number being 79,664, five thousand less than in 1897, though above the average for the last ten years. 45,779 copies of the Sunday School Hymnal, and 9,599 Mission Hymnals were disposed of, the former slightly above and the latter rather under the numbers of the previous year. The older Hymn Book was called for to the extent of 21,519 copies. . . . the demand for Hymn Sheets was undiminished.
CYB 1901 p.62 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 7th May 1900
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- Decrease marked the sales of our various hymnals and hymn books during the past year partly accounted for by the alteration of date at which the year's sales ceased, November 30th, instead of the middle of December as heretofore. The sales of Church Hymnal numbered 73,573 - about 6,000 less than in 1898; while 42,756 Sunday School Hymnal, 8,251 Mission Hymnal, and 20,068 of the older Congregational Hymn Book, show slight reductions on the numbers for the previous year. . . . Hymn Sheets were in good demand. . . . The aggregate sales of the three Hymnals, Church, Sunday School, and Mission, now reach 1,717,412 volumes, and the number of Churches newly adopting the books continues to increase.
CYB 1902 p.58 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 22nd April 1901
. . .
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT. -- . . . The sales of the Congregational Church Hymnal were 77,091, an increase of 3,500. The demand for the Sunday School Hymnal rose to the high-water mark of 46,000. On the other hand the sales of the Mission Hymnal were only 7,797, a decrease which recent additions to the work ought soon to amend. The total sales of these three Hymnals since their first issue now amount to very nearly two million copies, viz., Church Hymnal, 1,100,000; Sunday School Hymnal, 600,000; and Mission Hymnal, 200,000. The old Hymn Book, still called the New Congregational, sold only to the extent of 17,791 copies, the lowest sale on record, a hint of the coming day when it will no longer be profitable to keep it in stock. The total sales of these various Hymnals reached the large figure of 148,683.
CYB 1903 p.57 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 12th May 1902
. . .
THE STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES
. . .
The business of the Publication Department shows a steady and encouraging growth. The calls for the Congregational Church Hymnal were the largest on record, 87,728 as against 77,091 copies in 1900, itself an increase of 3,500 over 1899. The demand for the Sunday School Hymnal exceeded the previous "high-water mark" of 46,000 by an additional 4,000. The sales of the Mission Hymnal were 8,894, comparing favourably with 7,797 in 1890. On the other hand, the sales of the old hymn-book, still called the New Congregational, fell to 14,831, about 3,000 less than the previous lowest sale. The total number of hymnals disposed of during the year was 161,835, an increase of 13,000 on the sales of 1900. . . .
CYB 1904 p.51 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 11th May 1903
. . .
STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES.
Finance and Publication Department. . . . The total sales of the Church Hymnal were 85,918, a high figure, only short of the highest. The sales of the Sunday School Hymnal reached a total of 46,628 - much above the average. The Mission Hymnal, in spite of recent additions to its contents, does not command the attention its merits deserve, the demand being only 7,686. The old Congregational Hymn Book sold to the extent of 13,692 copies - a decreasing output sure to eventuate in ultimate withdrawal of the work. The total sales of hymnals and hymn books reached 153,924.
CYB 1905 p.49 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 9th May 1904
. . .
(VI.) During 1903 trade in the Publication Department was well maintained and nearly reached the very high record of previous years. There was a falling off in the sales of the Church Hymnal - the aggregate being nearly 80,000 copies, or some 6,000 copies less than 1902. Of the Sunday School Hymnal, however, 53,000 copies were sold. The Mission Hymnal had a sale of 5,000 copies. The old Congregational Hymn Book moved another step towards the point where the question of withdrawing it will have to be faced. The sales were 12,275. The total sales of hymn books were 150,425, and 113,000 sheets of selected hymns were sold.
CYB 1906 p.106 Committee Report to Annual Assembly, 8h May 1905
. . .
(11) Publication Department.
. . . Sales of the Church Hymnal have much exceeded the average number, the total having been 84,281. In the case of the Sunday School Hymnal, the number of sales has passed all earlier records and reached the gratifying aggregate of 53,704 copies, and the issue of a new edition in larger type has proved a welcome departure, promising increased favour and usefulness for this popular book. Of the Mission Hymnal 7,645 copies have been sold. While the Department continues to supply the old Hymn Book so long known under the name of "The New Congregational Hymn Book and Supplement", the demand gradually but surely declines, and is now met by an annual sale of less than 10,000 copies. Some of the larger type editions are nearly exhausted and cannot profitably be reprinted, a fact which deserves the careful attention of those churches which have not yet adopted the Hymnal. Of the several series of separate Hymn Sheets 129,512 copies have been sold. . . .
[ General Annual Report not included in the 1907 Year Book. See separate Council Minutes. (Under the "New Constitution" of 1905, the first meeting of the Council was held in May of that year).
CYB 1908 p.11 Assembly Minutes Thurs. 9th May 1907
(Council Report for 1906 - 1907)
LITERATURE COMMITTEE. --
. . . A new edition of the Hymnal of small size, including chants and anthems, will be on sale at an early date.
CYB 1909 p.10 Assembly Minutes Tue. 12th May 1908
(Council Report for 1907 - 1908)
LITERATURE. -- Your Council, realising that some change either by way of a new Hymnal or a supplement to the present book is becoming increasingly pressing, decided to invite an expression of opinion from the Churches through the County Unions. The information when received will be invaluable in aiding a decision on a question which so vitally affects the worship of the sanctuary. Returns at present point in the direction of a new book.
A new edition of the Congregational Church Hymnal of smaller size, which promises to meet a popular demand, has been issued during the year.
CYB 1910 p.6 Assembly Minutes Thurs. 13th May 1908
(Council Report for 1908 - 1909)
. . .
The chief features of the work done during the year are seen in the decisions of the Council to prepare and issue a new Hymn Book; . . .
LITERATURE COMMITTEE. -- Your Council reports that the majority of the county unions having declared in favour of a change of Hymn Book, it has decided on the compilation of a new book,, and the following have consented to form a Hymnal Editorial Committee: Revs. Dr. P.T. Forsyth, T.G. Crippen, A.R. Henderson, M.A., E.P. Powell, M.A., J.G. Stevenson, H. Elvet Lewis, M.A., B.J . Snell, M.A., Drs. J.D. McClure, H. Coward, and Mr Josiah Booth. . . .
~~~~~~~
CYB 1926 p.34 Assembly Minutes Wed. 13th May 1925
(Council Report for 1924 - 1925)
. . .
Publication Committee
. . . during the year 1924 the sales by the Department amounted to £20,760. The total is £232 less than in the previous year. The falling off, however, is entirely due to a decrease of £866 from sales of Hymnals, etc., which must necessarily decrease now that the new Hymnary has become so generally adopted.
CYB 1927 p.39 Assembly Minutes Wed. 9th June 1926
(Council Report for 1925 - 1926)
(1927 p.39) Publication Committee Report ("Independent Press Limited")
The Publication Committee in presenting its report of the year's working to the Council is glad to be able to record that steady progress has been made, and although the total trade is slightly behind the figures for last year the reason for this is largely the gradual falling off in the sales of the Congregational Hymnary which is inevitable under the circumstances. It is to be hoped, however, that the Churches which have not yet adopted the Hymnary will do so at the earliest possible moment. . . .
CYB 1937 p.250 Assembly Minutes Wed. 15th May 1935
(Council Report for 1935 - 1936)
(Independent Press Ltd report for 1935)
Congregational Church Hymnal. -- This book, popularly known as "Barrett's Hymnal", has had a life of almost fifty years. Many churches still have it in use, but sales of recent years have been so small that it has been found impossible to issue new printings of it. Only very small quantities of any edition remain, and it is suggested that churches give consideration to the current Hymnary of which ample stocks are available.
CYB 1938 p.223 Assembly Minutes Wed. 15th May 1937
(Council Report for 1936 - 1937)
(Independent Press Ltd report for 1936)
. . .
"Barrett's Hymnal". -- This old Congregational Church Hymnal, after a life of just fifty years, has ceased to be, no copies of any edition now remaining. Sales for years have been getting smaller as more and more churches have adopted the Hymnary. The Directors realize that to replace the worn-out stock of "Barrett" is a formidable undertaking. To help meet this, the Manager has been authorized to extend the period of settlement in such cases, so that churches may pay the account for hymn-book supplies over a period of six, or even nine, months, as will suit the convenience of church ordering.
. . .
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