ATTENTION! As from May 2005 the Society's Web Site has been moved to a new address - www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk. Click on this address to reach the new Front Page.Up-to-date information about the Society will be found on the new pages.
~~~~~~~~~ Some of the former Web Site pages have been retained, being part of David Goodall's hymnology web site "canamus.org". Transient information has been deleted, but (if still relevant) may be found on the new Hymn Society site. The remainder - modified as necessary - may be reached by selecting the following Section link > > > .
The original version of this page ("About the Hymn Society") is temporarily retained below, but may become obsolete as time goes by.
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The Hymn Society was founded in 1936 for the purpose of encouraging study and research in the field of hymnody, promoting good standards of hymn-singing, encouraging the discerning use of hymns in worship and sponsoring relevant publications. It is ecumenical, its members being drawn from a wide spectrum of Christian tradition and practice.
The Society's 500 members world-wide include leaders of worship and church musicians, writers of words and tunes, people interested in editing hymn-books, scholars and researchers, as well as those simply wishing to use hymns with greater understanding.
Members receive the quarterly Bulletin and Occasional Papers. These contain a wide variety of articles and reviews as well as news and correspondence - all of these providing a unique record of the progress of hymnody for more than half a century. Back numbers (all of which are kept in print) and classified Indexes to the first sixteen volumes, covering the period 1937-2002, are available for purchase.
The Hymn Society is able to offer a limited number of small grants of up to £100 to members or students in full-time higher education engaged in innovative work in hymnody. The work must seek to fulfil at least one of the four aims of the Hymn Society (summarised in the opening paragraph above)
An annual residential Conference, usually occupying a three-day period in July, is open to members and their partners; lectures and discussions on hymnological topics are held, and practical hymn-singing of new and old hymns is a prominent feature. It is held in a different place each year, the next Conference being scheduled to take place at Chester College from 26-28 July 2005. The Conference period always includes a public Act of Praise, usually in a local church, chapel or cathedral, in which a programme of hymns, often linked to a specific theme or occasion, is introduced by a narrator and sung by all present. Additional half-day or one-day regional meetings are arranged from time to time.
The Society maintains links with The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, and with the European-based International Fellowship for Research in Hymnology (Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie). Friends from both these organisations attend our conferences; they in turn welcome our members' participation in their own gatherings. We also maintain links with the Royal School of Church Music.
Membership is by subscription, at the following annual rates covering a calendar year {new rates as from January 2004):
Personal subscriptions may qualify as Gift Aid for UK income tax purposes, enabling the Society as a Registered Charity to claim a tax refund. Members who pay UK Income Tax are encouraged to help the Society in this way. Further details may be obtained from the Treasurer.
At present, subscriptions can only be received by cheque on a UK bank, in pounds sterling (GBP). The society is not able to handle credit or debit cards. However, members of the North American and European (I.A.H.) Hymn Societies may subscribe through their own Society, under a mutual arrangement between the three Hymn Societies; for these subscription rates, enquiries should be made to the appropriate Secretary.
Enquiries about membership and about the Society's activities will be welcomed. (Secretary: The Revd Robert A. Canham, 99 Barton Road, Lancaster LA1 4EN, U.K.; E-mail: robcanham@haystacks.fsnet.co.uk )
The Society is a Registered Charity, No.248225.
(Hymn Society of GB & I . This page amended 23/12/04. For site details click here ... )
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Former pages of The Hymn Society of Gt Britain & Ireland:edited and revised by David Goodall; last amended 19/5/05.