Monthly column on hymns and songs

Top of the Pops?

The poll whose results we published last month unveiled 'Lord for the years' as your top choice among 20th century hymns. It was not alone in this, and 'Great is the Gospel' came second. But some readers have been puzzled by the contrasting results yielded by other surveys.

Why does the Church Copyright Licence scheme (CCL) show 'Be still, for the Spirit of the Lord' as the nation's favourite, followed by 'Shout to the Lord' and 'Shine, Jesus, shine'? How did the BBC come up with 'How great thou art' as number one - which came in our top ten, but only just? Their next places, not limited to one century, were filled by 'Dear Lord and Father of mankind' and 'The day thou gavest'

As in all surveys (though CCL is more than that) much depends on who you ask, and how. Americans often base theirs on how many books each hymn appears in. But most hymnals, not to mention boxes of transparencies, contain many items which are rarely sung. One church deliberately tried to use all the hymns in its book of 700, only to end up with nearly 100 it never needed. It is easy to think 'We can't leave that out!', and then realise no one has chosen it for 20 years.

To state the obvious: CCL figures apply mainly to bookless churches. They are not so relevant to the rest of us. The BBC's researches are valid for those who spend more time in front of the box than in front of the pulpit. They don't even have to get up out of their seats. They listen and look rather than stand and sing; some have never known a service that is not brimful of hearty worshippers. Whereas EN readers are, of course, just that: readers of EN.

Blossoming Praise!

But I cannot let this month pass without a tribute to Brian Edwards and his fellow-workers on the new book Praise! which is bursting into blossom as I write. Having been part of the team, I am in no position to assess it; one day I may comment further, but this month's word is a personal one.

For the years of the book's preparation Brian has had a regular nationwide preaching and pastoring ministry. He has written widely, and steered other publications through the press. And he has lovingly cared for Barbara, his sick and dying wife, occupying many hours of every day until her earthly course was over and her pain forever ended.

Thank you, Brian, for your patient labours for a book which could have an enormous effect for good. Not all will welcome it at once; the same has been true for many landmarks of hymnody, going back to Isaac Watts and the even earlier rival Psalm versions. 'When I survey' was not an instant poll-winner!

As then, so now; some resolve to reject the book long before seeing it. Others must judge how successful we have been in setting standards for a new century, bringing together the best of old and new, resisting much that is popular but passing, or fine-sounding but incorrect, or venerable but simply unusable by thoughtful Christians today. I merely want to use this slot to express enormous gratitude to the man who held a diverse, lively and gifted bunch together, and saw a sometimes impossible project through to its conclusion - which is just a beginning.

Thank you, Brian, for helping us to praise the Lord with fresh words and music, hearts and voices, imagination and insight, in ways, which, above all aim, biblically and prayerfully, to express and commend the gospel of his grace.

Christopher Idle

© Evangelicals Now - May 2000
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