Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
A popular nineteenth-century Sunday School hymn about Heaven, first published anonymously in 1862 and later attributed to J. Hall.
A striking nineteenth-century hymn on death and burial written by William Winstanley Hull and published in 1833.
Charles Wesley's famous hymn of personal responsibility, first published in 1762 and based on Leviticus 8:35.
James Montgomery's 1840 hymn written specifically for the opening of the first Sunday School building in Wincobank, Sheffield.
John Mason Neale's joyful 1860 Christmas carol, written expressly for Edmund Sedding's Antient Christmas Carols and later featured in the People's Hymnal.
Augustus Montague Toplady's celebrated hymn on the assurance of faith, first published in the Gospel Magazine in 1771.
Horatius Bonar's celebrated New Year's hymn of pilgrimage, first printed in 1842 for his Kelso congregation and widely sung across English-speaking nations.
Joseph Hart's 1759 hymn on the spiritual power of the Kingdom of God, based on First Corinthians 4:20 and favored in ultra-Calvinistic hymnals.
Charles Wesley's 1762 invitation hymn based on Revelation 22:17, expressing the free gift of the living water of salvation.
Joseph Swain’s poignant 1791 hymn on Christ’s friendship, composed following the tragic loss of his only son.
John Fawcett's 1782 hymn on the sufficiency of Christ, first published in his collected hymns and later popularized through John Rippon's influential selections.
John Newton's 1775 nature hymn reflecting on lightning in the night, published in the Olney Hymns and included in several notable nineteenth-century collections.
An early nineteenth-century cento focusing on the Holy Scriptures, published in John Campbell's 1837 collection and adapted from William Winstanley Hull's compilation.
John Cennick's 1744 hymn on the priesthood of Christ, compiled by George Whitefield and John Rippon for widespread use.
Samuel John Stone's 1872 poem on the Christian armor, published in The Knight of Intercession and later featured in devotional manuals.
William Robertson’s beautiful 1861 baptismal hymn, which was historically misattributed in American hymnals to an eighteenth-century ancestor.
Horatius Bonar's expansive 1857 poem on the Church, published in Hymns of Faith and Hope and adapted into various hymnal centos.
Albert Midlane’s tender 1859 children's hymn, first printed in the Good News Magazine and widely adopted in youth hymnals.
The pseudonym "A---y." used in the Gospel Magazine by Job Hupton, representing the parish of Ashby where he resided.
The signature "A." as used to denote Ann Gilbert (née Taylor) in William Bengo Collyer's Collection of Hymns, published in 1812.