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Choosing a Hymnal for your Church

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Choosing a hymnal for your church is not a simple matter. But here are nearly three dozen great, practical tips for the church wanting to purchase a new hymn book!

A. General Considerations

Next to the Bible, a good hymn book may well be the Christian’s most valuable treasure. It contains a distillation of church history, and of the life personal experiences of great saints of bygone days. It provides a wonderful teaching tool (cf. Col. 3:16). It gives the body of Christ a means to engage in unifying fellowship as they sing together. For these reasons and more, a church’s choice of which hymn book to purchase is a critical one. It should be done carefully.

  1. The decision should be made by a committee, rather than one individual. (Include the pastoral staff, church musicians, and insightful people from the congregation–spiritual men and women who know the Word of God.)
  2. Pray about your choice, individually and as a committee. But realize that you will never be able to satisfy everyone. (Remind the congregation of this, and assure them the committee is seeking to make a wise and balanced choice.)
  3. Take plenty of time. This is a big (and expensive) decision that may affect the church for a number of years.
  4. Encourage committee members to talk to pastors and members of other churches. Find out what they are using and how they like it.
  5. Keep your local church doctrines and policies in mind (and those of your denomination). For example, if your church has a strong missionary emphasis, does the hymn book provide an adequate number of suitable songs in that area.
  6. No hymn book can keep up with the contemporary music scene. Don’t make a major issue out of whether the book contains all the newest and latest. There are other ways to provide a selection of newer songs (such as by using a screen).
  7. Don’t buy a smaller book because, “That’s all we can afford.” You may find later you have made a poor investment. A quality hymn book should contain 500-800 songs. Too many congregations are stuck in a rut and sing fewer than 50 hymns, over and over. They need to expand their devotional vocabulary by learning more about our heritage. Get a good-sized book, and have your musicians teach “new” hymns regularly.
  8. You should be able to find a eight or ten books that are possibilities. Purchase (or borrow) a copy of each, and give each committee member time to evaluate them individually. Then discuss findings as a group.

B. Textual Factors

The words of our hymns are basically poetry. Some of it is poor to average in quality; some is sublimely beautiful. But even the simplest lines of verse can express profound truths that stick in the mind and ring in the heart long after the songs are sung. It is the words which must be central. The music provides a frame for that message, but the words are always most important. For that reason, give careful attention to the words of the hymns.

  1. There should be hymns representing various periods in church history, and representing the major writers of each era. A few hymns come from the earliest centuries of church history–and even before, if we count psalms set to music. But the majority of our hymns date from the Protestant Reformation (about 1500) onward. Key names to look for: Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby, Philip Bliss.
  2. Watch for the opposite problem: too much emphasis on one author and one period. Sometimes the editor of the book is also a hymn writer, and he may overload the book with his own songs, leaving less room for those of others.
  3. Does your congregation have some special favourites? Look for a book that includes them. Usually a book will include a good selection of the “standards” because they are widely known and loved.
  4. Watch for alterations in the traditional texts of hymns. Some editors attempt to modernize the words–with mixed success. Some remove all the “thees” and “thous,” even when the poetry suffers as a result. And some concerned with gender equality balk at singing hymns that refer to “men of God” and miss the women. If such things are a concern, it will affect your choice. (This author’s personal view is that usually we should leave traditional hymns as they are, unless blatantly false doctrine requires a change.)
  5. Many hymn books also contain a selection of Bible portions (usually at the rear of the book). These are useful for congregational reading. In a day when a variety of Bible versions are in use, unison reading of the Scriptures is difficult. Check the variety and usefulness of the portions included. And is the version used one that your congregation would find acceptable?

C. Theological Factors

People ought to get their theology from the Scriptures, not from a hymn book. But it remains true that our hymns are a valuable tool for teaching biblical truth. However, the authors of our hymns wrote from an extremely wide doctrinal spectrum. Some hymn writers were theological liberals. And along with Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists and Pentecostals, are Roman Catholics, Unitarians and more. Usually, our hymns focus on commonly held beliefs–but not always. You will find some thoughts which are not true to Scripture. What then? We do not need to throw out the whole hymn book on that account. Sometimes, we can agree with the basic sentiment, even though we might argue over the details. Other times, we can simply avoid using certain hymns, or certain verses within a hymn. You must determine how you will handle this issue.

  1. Are the major doctrines of the Bible covered? Or are there gaps? Be aware of your church’s doctrinal statement as you examine possible hymn books. Are some key truths missing? For example, in the liberal community there is sometimes an abhorrence of the blood of Christ. Attempts are made to edit out hymns that make reference to it, such as “Power in the Blood,” or “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood.”
  2. What about the theological accuracy of hymns in the book? As noted above, we will not agree with every phrase of every hymn. But are these the exception, or do doctrinal problems predominate? Sometimes, simply changing a word can improve a hymn. An example: Early versions of the hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” contain this line at the end of the second verse: “Two wonders I confess– / The wonders of redeeming love and my own worthlessness.” But Christ did not die for “worthless” people. We are unworthy of His love, yes. But not worthless. Later books amend the line to read, “The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.”
  3. Special attention should be given to the area of the Second Coming, and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Are the hymns generally supportive of the position of your church? If your church is not charismatic, for example, you should avoid books that emphasize charismatic teaching.

D. Thematic Factors

To see the range of topics covered in a particular book, you should be able to check the Topical Index at the back. (If the book lacks this helpful tool, it is a major omission.)

  1. What topics are covered in the book? Your pastor should be able to find songs that will complement his pulpit ministry and help him to emphasize key truths. Church services ought to be planned around a definite theme. Is that possible with the choices available?
  2. Watch for the opposite problem. A thematic over-emphasis–too many hymns on one topic, to the detriment of others. (A less frequent issue, since editors aim to please as many people as possible!)
  3. What about special occasion music? Is there a good choice for Christmas and Easter? What about Thanksgiving, New Year’s, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and so on. Consider the special days emphasized by your church. Will the book help you with those services?

E. Musical Factors

While the music is of less importance than the words, it is not unimportant. Our enjoyment of a beautiful painting can be hindered by a distracting frame. And the tune, or tune arrangement, can either enhance or detract from the message of the words.

  1. Are the tunes used with the texts the familiar ones? A little creativity is fine, but most congregations will not be happy with a steady diet of unfamiliar tunes. Too much innovation can simply be a nuisance.
  2. Even if the tune looks familiar, an arranger may have done new things with the melody or the harmony that will confuse the congregation–or the accompanists. Watch for the words “Arranged by” (or “Arr.”) along with the name of the tune’s composer. Have your church organist or pianist play through some of these to see what changes have been made.
  3. Consider the pitch and the musical range of the songs. It has become common in newer books to lower the tune slightly so the melody is reachable by those with lower voices. This can strengthen congregational singing. It is not so much a concern if your accompanists are able to transpose on sight, but that ability is not possessed by all.
  4. Is there a special edition of the hymn book available for the instrumentalists? Often the print in these is larger, and they sometimes include guitar chords above the music. Your musicians will thank you for books bound so they will lie open more easily as these usually are.

F. Mechanical Factors

  1. What indexes are included in the book? Usually, there is an Alphabetical Index of each hymn–often by the first line, as well as by the title. Very occasionally, a book will include the first line of each verse. Another important index is the Topical Index. How do you find hymns about prayer? Or about the cross? These topics and dozens more should be covered. Along with these two, your musicians will find an Index of Tunes, and a Metrical Index valuable. (It is possible, with the use of these, to select a different tune for many hymns. Done occasionally, this can add variety and give the hymn a new feel.) Some books include an Index of Authors and Composers. And if there are Scripture portions in the book it should have one or two indexes for these–indexing them by passage and by subject.
  2. Some of the newer books have a computer program available with even more extensive indexes, and help with service planning, etc. This can be a valuable tool.
  3. What is the paper and the print like? The paper should be a good, clean white, with a texture that is smooth rather than course and grainy. The print should be black, clear and readable. Think about the seniors in your congregation. They will thank you for attention to this last detail.
  4. What about the binding? It should be both durable and attractive. Purchase only a hard cover hymn book, with a sturdy sewn binding. Otherwise, you will soon see pages beginning to loosen and fall out. What colours are available? Is there one that particularly harmonizes with the decor of your church sanctuary?

G. Financial Factors

  1. What is the cost per book? You can expect to pay around $14-15 for a good hymn book. Multiply that by the number needed for your congregation (keeping in mind those occasions when there are more people present, and also the prospect of future numerical growth). For 100 books, the cost will be $1500 plus shipping (and some possible taxes). This is a large expenditure. But think of it as being spread over 8-10 years, the period in which you may well be using the book.
  2. You could finance the project by having each adult and teen contribute the cost of one book. You might have special envelopes prepared, and a special Sunday’s offering (well advertised in advance) designated for this.
  3. Another alternative is to have people donate books in memory of family members or friends who have passed away. A tasteful sticker in the front of these books could say “Dedicated to the memory of ____ / By _____.
  4. You should also encourage families to purchase their own copy of the book for home use. If possible, these should be a different colour, so they are not confused with those belonging to the church. Another means of differentiating the two is to have the church books gold stamped with the church name. (Many hymn book companies will do the former, for a small additional cost.)
  5. When the books arrive, plan a special service of dedication for them. Place them at the front of the sanctuary, and have a prayer of dedication. Then distribute them. If you can devote the whole (or most of the) service to singing from the book, this is an excellent way to introduce it. Have your choir or a soloist prepared to sing a number; ask for some favourites, introduce one or two new songs. Make it a great occasion–because it is!
  6. Here is a brief list of some hymnals presently in print. Depending on your needs, one of these may be what you are looking for. (If you have difficulty locating information, leave a comment. Perhaps someone can help.)

For more information on some of these books, see the article on choosing a hymn book for home use, at Choosing a Hymn Book.

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Choosing a Hymn Book for Home Use

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