''Hymns and Psalms'' was the primary

hymnbook A hymnal or hymnary is a collection of hymns, usually in the form of a book, called a hymnbook (or hymn book). Hymnals are used in congregational singing. A hymnal may contain only hymn texts (normal for most hymnals for most centuries of Chri ...

of the

Methodist Church of Great Britain The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a Protestantism, Protestant List of Christian denominations, Christian denomination in Britain, and the mother church to Methodism, Methodists worldwide. It participates in the World Methodist Council, an ...

from 1983 until 2010. The hymnbook was first published by the Methodist Publishing House in 1983, to replace the ''Methodist Hymn-Book'', which was published soon after the unification of the Methodist Church in 1933.Preface to 1983 Edition, p. viii The book's full title is ''Hymns and Psalms: A Methodist and Ecumenical Hymn Book'', reflecting a degree of participation by many

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worsh ...

s in its creation and a desire 'to build from accepted denominational traditions towards a richer sharing of ... diverse interests and ... common heritage". The decision to produce a new hymnbook was taken at the Methodist Conference of 1979, and the new book was authorised for use in all Methodist Churches in the Connexion at the 1982 Conference in

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

. The hymns are presented in three sections, covering, respectively, God's Nature, God's World and God's People, followed by a selection of

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

and

canticles A canticle (from the Latin ''canticulum'', a diminutive of ''canticum'', "song") is a hymn, psalm or other Christian song of praise with lyrics usually taken from biblical or holy texts. Canticles are used in Christian liturgy. Catholic Church ...

. Of the 823 hymns, over 150 were written by

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include " And Can It Be", " Christ the Lord Is Risen ...

(1707–88), brother of

John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English people, English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The soci ...

, the founder of

Methodism Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's br ...

Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...

also has a significant number of hymns included. The most represented hymn writer of the 20th century is

Fred Pratt Green The Reverend Fred Pratt Green MBE (2 September 1903 – 22 October 2000) was a British Methodist minister and hymnodist. Born in Roby, Lancashire, England, he began his ministry in the Filey circuit. He was ordained as a Methodist minister ...

(1903–2000), who has 27 hymns included. ''Hymns and Psalms'' remains an authorised part of the Methodist

hymnody Robert Gerhard's Hymnody is a contemporary classical work from 1963, which was an assignment from BBC. This piece was written during February and March of that year. Composer notes A note from the composer: First citation comes from Psalm ...

and is still in active use within the Methodist Church, although the Methodist Conference Faith and Order Committee has also released a new hymn book, ''

Singing the Faith ''Singing the Faith'' is the current authorised hymnbook (hymnal) of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, first published in 2011. The decision to produce a new hymnbook was taken at the Methodist Conference of 2009. Since the publication of the ...

'', which was approved at the 2010 Methodist ConferenceMethodist Conference
Conference Reports 2010
accessed 27 December 2021 and published in 2011.

References

Methodism in the United Kingdom Protestant hymnals {{Christian-book-stub

See also

References