History of The Hymn Society

1940-1950

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1940

• Broadman Hymnal
• Foote, Three Centuries of American Hymnody 

 

1941

• Christian Worship: A Hymnal
• The Church Hymnal [Seventh-day Adventists]
• The Hymnal [Evangelical and Reformed]
• The Lutheran Hymnal

• Founder Emily S. Perkins dies

 

1942 

• Polack, The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal

• William Walker Rockwell named first Fellow

• Reginald L. McAll named first Executive Secretary

 

1943

• The Hymnal 1940 

 

1944

• Harry T. Burleigh named Fellow

 

1946 

• Clarence Dickinson and Helen Dickinson named Fellows

 

1948

• World Council of Churches founded

• Deane Edwards begins 21-year service as President

 

1949

• Choristers Guild founded
• [Ellinwood], The Hymnal 1940 Companion (revised in 1951 and 1956)
• Hostetler, Handbook to The Mennonite Hymnary

• The Hymn begins publication

• Office established in United Charities Building, 297 Fourth Avenue North, New York City

1950-1960

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1950

• National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America founded
• Bailey, The Gospel in Hymns

• First general meeting outside New York held in Cleveland with MTNA, enabled by Ohio Chapter

• Chapter forms at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

1951

• McAll visits HSGBI to discuss resumption of work on Julian replacement

 

1952

• Hauessler, The Story of Our Hymns

• Chapter forms in Los Angeles

• Three-day meeting, May 18-20, celebrates Society’s 30th anniversary

 

1953

• Harkness, “Hope of the world! thou Christ of great compassion”

 

1954

• Office moves to National Arts Club building,119 East 19th Street, New York City

 

1955

• The Hymnbook [Presbyterian and Reformed]
• People’s Hymnal

• 14 new and developing chapters

• Leonard Ellinwood succeeds Henry Wilder Foote as Chairman of THS committee on replacement for Julian’s Dictionary 

 

1956

• Baptist Hymnal

• HSGBI approves concept of American dictionary of hymnology

 

1957

• Worship and Service Hymnal
• McCutchan, Hymn Tune Names 

 

1958

• Pilgrim Hymnal
• Service Book and Hymnal

 

1959

• American Choral Directors Association founded
• Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie / International Society for Hymnological Studies established

• Caroline Bird Parker is the last of Founders to die

• Members in all 50 states, in all but 1 Canadian province, and in 24 other countries

1960-1970

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1960

• Sydnor, The Hymn and Congregational Singing

• Office moves to The Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive, NYC

• THS “has published exactly 100 hymns”

 

1961

• International Hymnological Conference

• First annual meeting outside New York in Philadelphia, celebrating chapter’s 10th anniversary

• Georgia chapter organizes

 

1962

• Three-day meeting, May 4-6, celebrates 40th anniversary of founding

• Reid, Sing with Spirit and Understanding: The Story of the Hymn Society of America 

 

1963

• East Asian Christian Conference Hymnal
• Reynolds, A Survey of Christian Hymnody (later editions with Price and Music)

 

1964

• People’s Mass Book
• Reynolds, Hymns of Our Faith 

 

1965

• Kaan, “For the healing of the nations”
• Lovelace, The Anatomy of Hymnody 

 

1966

• The Methodist Hymnal [titled The Book of Hymns in 1970]
• Scholtes, “We are one in the Spirit”

 

1967

• Cymdeithas Emynau Cymru (Welsh Hymn Society) founded

• New Orleans chapter forms

 

1968

• Vajda, “Now the silence now the peace,”
• Schalk, Waters, “Herald, sound the note of judgment”
• Wren, “Christ is alive! Let Christians sing”
• Consultation on Ecumenical Hymnody launched

• Louisville chapter forms

 

1969

• The Mennonite Hymnal 

1970-1980

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1970

• Douroux, “Give me a clean heart”
• Hymnbook for Christian Worship 

 

1971

• Fishel, “Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks,” ALLELUIA NO. 1
• Lafferty, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”
• The Hymn Book [Canadian Anglican and United Church]
• Worship (2nd edition, 1975)

• Two-day annual meeting in Washington, May 7-8; 75 attend

 

1972

• The Worshipbook 
• Cone, The Spirituals and the Blues 

• Reid, Continuing Sing with Spirit and Understanding: The Story of the Hymn Society of America, 1962-1972 

• Contests and searches have produced more than 225 hymns

 

1973

• Hopson, MERLE’S TUNE
• The Hymnal of the Baptist Federation of Canada 

 

1974

• Christian Conference of Asia Hymnal 
• The Hymnal of the United Church of Christ

 

1975

• Baptist Hymnal

• Ohio Chapter hosts National Festival, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio

• Ralph Mortensen and Jan Bender named Fellows; “There are now eleven living Fellows of the Hymn Society of America.”

 

1976

• THS reorganizes

• W. Thomas Smith named first Executive Director

• Office moves to Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio

 

1977

• Australian Hymn Book 
• Ecumenical Praise 
• The New National Baptist Hymnal 
• Consultation on Ecumenical Hymnody recommends 227 hymns for ecumenical use

• The Stanza first published in February

• Music: The AGO and RCCO Magazine (later, The American Organist ) begins inclusion of a column provided by THS

 

1978

• Lutheran Book of Worship 

 

1979

• Routley, An English-Speaking Hymnal Guide
• Routley, A Panorama of Christian Hymnody

1980-1990

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1980

• Eskew and McElrath, Sing with Understanding

• Hope Publishing Company becomes copyright administrator for THS

• Gracia Grindal and Alice Parker lead first Hymn Writing Workshop

 

1981

• Routley, The Music of Christian Hymns
• Songs of Zion
• Lift Every Voice and Sing (second volume, 1993)
• Stulken, Hymnal Companion to The Lutheran Book of Worship

• First joint conference with The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Internationle Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie in Oxford, England

• First tour, to joint conference in Oxford

 

1982

• Hymns for Today’s Church (2nd edition, 1987)
• Lutheran Worship
• The New National Baptist Hymnal
• Yes, Lord!

• Van Burklalow, “60 Years of the Hymn Society of America: 1922-1982,” The Hymn, January

 

1983

• Hymns from the Four Winds 
• Sydnor, Hymns: A Congregational Study

• Dictionary of American Hymnology: First Line Index

• Bibliography of American Hymnals

• Annual conference held jointly with Experience

 

1984

• A. M. E. C. Bicentennial Hymnal
• Crawford, The Core Repertory of Early American Psalmody
• Schilling, The Faith We Sing

• Office moves to Texas Christian University, Fort Worth

• Dictionary of American Hymnology Project materials move to Oberlin, Ohio

 

1985

• The Hymnal 1982

• THS hosts the HSGBI and IAH for a joint conference at Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

 

1986

• The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration
• Worship (3rd edition)

• Book service begins

• First students on scholarship attend annual conference

 

1987

• Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd edition, 2012)
• Psalter Hymnal
• Songs for a Gospel People
• Wild Goose Songs 1 (later titled Heaven Shall Not Wait)
• Lovelace, Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins 

 

1988

• Gather
• Sing Alleluia
• Christian Copyright Licensing International begins operation

 

1989

• Flor y Canto (2nd edition, 2001; 3rd edition, 2011)
• El Pueblo de Dios Canta
• Songs of Rejoicing
• The United Methodist Hymnal

• The Hymn Society of America becomes The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada

• John Ferguson coordinates first workshop in hymn playing and improvisation

1990-2000

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

1990

• International Songbook
• The Presbyterian Hymnal
• The Worshiping Church 
• Glover, The Hymnal 1982 Companion 

• Emily R. Brink becomes the first female President of The Hymn Society

 

1991

• The Baptist Hymnal
• Hymnal Supplement 1991
• Libro de Liturgia y Cantico
• Songs and Prayers from Taizé

• Acoustics for Liturgy; A Collection of Articles of The Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada

• The Hymn Society provides a toll-free number: 1-800-THE-HYMN

• Joint conference in Louvain, Belgium

 

1992

• Hymnal: A Worship Book
• Voices
• Adams, Handbook to The Baptist Hymnal
• Precht, Lutheran Worship Hymnal Companion
• Spencer, Black Hymnody

• Holding in Trust: Hymns of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada

• George R. Black becomes the first Canadian President of The Hymn Society

 

1993

• Zschech, “Shout to the Lord”
• Costen, African-American Christian Worship
• McKim, The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion
• Young, Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal

• Joint conference with the Canadian Liturgical Society

 

1994

• Catholic Book of Worship III
• New Songs of Rejoicing

• Amazing Grace: Hymn Texts for Devotional Use 

 

1995

• Chalice Hymnal
• Global Songs–Local Voices
• Moravian Book of Worship
• The New Century Hymnal
• Boyer, How Sweet the Sound

• Joint conference with Choristers Guild

 

1996

• The A. M. E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal
• Global Praise 1 (2 in 2000; 3 in 2004)
• Mil Voces para Celebrar
• Thuma Mina
• Voices United
• Cyber Hymnal founded
• The Book of Psalms 

• Mitchell-Wallace, The Art and Craft of Playing Hymns, released on VHS

• Hugh T. McElrath Fund for Hymnological Research established

• W. Thomas Smith retires and Carl P. Daw, Jr., named Executive Director

• Office moves to Boston University School of Theology

 

1997

• The Book of Praise
• Unisono
• Wonder, Love, and Praise
• Watson, The English Hymn

• McKellar, “A History of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, 1922-1997,” The Hymn, July 1997

• Joint conference in York

 

1998

• Africa Praise Songbook
• Common Ground
• Common Praise [Canadian Anglican]
• El Himnario
• Sing Justice! Do Justice!
• Brink and Polman, Psalter Hymn Handbook
• Forman, The New Century Hymnal Companion
• Temperly and others, The Hymn Tune Index
• Wasson, Hymntune Index and Related Hymn Materials 

 

1999

• This Far by Faith
• Together in Song

• Website established

• Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, focuses on global hymnody

• Patrick Matsikenyiri and Pablo Sosa named Honorary Members

2000-2010

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

2000

• The Faith We Sing
• Sound the Bamboo
• Bell, The Singing Thing
• Wren, Praying Twice

 

2001

• Getty and Townend, “In Christ alone”
• African-American Heritage Hymnal
• Hymns for the Gospels
• Worship and Rejoice
• Music, Christian Hymnody in Twentieth-Century Britain and America
• Temperly and others, The Hymn Tune Index online
• Hymn Society in Japan founded

 

2002

• Songs of Remembrance

 

2003

• Hawn, Gather into One: Praying and Singing Globally
• Schneider, Hymnal Collections of North America
• Watson, An Annotated Anthology of Hymns

• Dictionary of North American Hymnology released on CD-ROM

• THS hosts international conference in Halifax

• George Black Memorial Scholarship established

 

2004

• Costen, The Music of African-American Worship

 

2005

• Frank, Companion to the Moravian Book of Worship
• Routley-Cutts, An English-Speaking Hymnal Guide
• Routley-Richardson, A Panorama of Christian Hymnody
• Westermeyer, Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective

 

2006

• Evangelical Lutheran Worship
• Hymns of Universal Praise
• Lutheran Service Book
• Kimbrough, ed., Music and Mission: Toward a Theology and Practice of Global Song

 

2007

• Hymns for a Pilgrim People
• Zion Still Sings
• Ruff, Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform
• Hymnary.org begins

 

2008

• Baptist Hymnal
• Music and Richardson, I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

 

2009

• Hsieh, A History of Chinese Christian Hymnody

• Dictionary of North American Hymnology merged with hymnary.org

• Carl P. Daw, Jr., retires as Executive Director

• Deborah Carlton Loftis named Executive Director

• Office moves to Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond

• IAH hosts international conference in Opole, Poland

2010-2020

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

2010

• The Roman Missal revised
• Celebrating Grace Hymnal
• Steel and Hulan, Makers of the Sacred Harp
• Westermeyer, Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship

 

2011

• Total Praise
• Worship (4th edition)
• Loh, Hymnal Companion to Sound the Bamboo

 

2012

• Psalms for All Seasons

 

2013

• Community of Christ Sings
• Glory to God
• Lift up Your Hearts
• Oramos Cantando / We Pray in Song
• Hawn, ed., New Songs of Celebration Render
• Watson and others, Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology

 

2014

• One in Faith
• Budwey, Sing of Mary

• “Lifting Hearts, Joining Hands, Raising Voices” campaign to increase endowment begins

 

2015

• Gray, Hermeneutics of Hymnody

• Brian Hehn named Director of the Center for Congregational Song; Executive Director becomes part-time to enable enlargement of staff

• Hymns in Time of Crisis published online

 

2016

• Ritual Song (second edition)
• Daw, Glory to God: A Companion
• Guenther, In Their Own Words: Slave Life and the Power of Spirituals

 

2017

• Kubicki, The Song of the Singing Assembly

• Singing Welcome

• Deborah Carlton Loftis retired as Executive Director

• Jan Kraybill named Executive Director

• Center for Congregational Song launched in Dallas

 

2018

• One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
• Ingalls, Singing the Congregation: How Contemporary Worship Music Forms
• Evangelical Community
• Phillips, The Hymnal: A Reading History

• Jan Kraybill resigns as Executive Director

• J. Michael McMahon named Executive Director

 

2019

• Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy
• Herl and others, Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns
• Lamport and others, Hymns and Hymnody: Historical and Theological Introductions

2020-Present

*Bold text pertains to The Hymn Society*

 

2020

• World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic
• Voices Together

• Songs for the Holy Other

• Annual conference held virtually

 

2021

• Ruth and Lim, A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship

• Annual conference held virtually