Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
A charge to keep I have
Hymn
Charles Wesley's famous hymn of personal responsibility, first published in 1762 and based on Leviticus 8:35.
A fountain of Life and of Grace
Hymn
Charles Wesley's 1762 invitation hymn based on Revelation 22:17, expressing the free gift of the living water…
A helm upon my brow I wear
History
Samuel John Stone's 1872 poem on the Christian armor, published in The Knight of Intercession and later featu…
A little child the Saviour came
Hymn
William Robertson’s beautiful 1861 baptismal hymn, which was historically misattributed in American hymnals t…
A little while—our Lord shall come
Hymn
James George Deck's influential 1841 Advent hymn, rooted in Plymouth Brethren hymnody and adopted across prom…
A nation God delights to bless
Hymn
Charles Wesley's 1762 patriotic hymn focusing on national peace, rooted in the text of Job 34:29 and preserve…
A solis ortus cardine (Translations and Structural Variants)
History
An index of the nineteenth-century English and German translations of Coelius Sedulius's hymn, detailing the …
A thousand oracles divine
Hymnology
An overview of Charles Wesley's intensely dogmatic Trinitarian hymn, tracing its publication history, denomin…
A widow poor, forlorn, oppressed
Hymnology
A publication summary of Charles Wesley's prayerful hymn based on the Gospels, tracing its history from a 176…
A. C. C.
History
The signature "A. C. C." used in The Hymnary (1872) to denote William Cooke, standing for "A Canon of Chester…
Abba Father! we approach Thee
Hymnology
A publication and editorial history of James George Deck's evangelical hymn centered on the theme of divine a…
Abba, gentle Jesus prayed
Hymnology
John Samuel Bewley Monsell's devotional hymn exploring Christ's intimate prayer to the Father, published in 1…
Abraham, when severely tried
Hymnology
A publication history of Charles Wesley's epic scriptural paraphrase on faith, detailing its origins in 1740 …
Accepted, Perfect, and Complete
Hymnology
A structural and publication chronicle of Frances Ridley Havergal's devotional hymn, tracing its specific scr…
Acquaint thee, O mortal
Hymnology
A structural account of William Knox's invitation hymn based on Job 22, detailing its initial compilation in …
Ad celebres, Rex coelice, laudes cuncta
Hymnology
A text-critical and manuscript chronicle of a historic Notkerian sequence for the Feast of Saint Michael, doc…
Ad templa nos rursus vocat
Hymnology
A publication and text-historical record of Charles Coffin’s morning hymn for Sunday Lauds, charting its intr…
Adam descended from above
Hymnology
A publication history of Charles Wesley's Lenten hymn, contrasting the primary text adopted into the standard…
Ades Pater supreme
History
Historical and liturgical entry for Prudentius's 5th-century evening hymn "Ades Pater supreme," detailing its…
Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes
History
Comprehensive entry for the celebrated Christmas hymn "Adeste fideles," tracing its origin, Latin textual tra…
A helm upon my brow I wear
History
Samuel John Stone's 1872 poem on the Christian armor, published in The Knight of Intercession and later featu…
A little child the Saviour came
Hymn
William Robertson’s beautiful 1861 baptismal hymn, which was historically misattributed in American hymnals t…
A little while—our Lord shall come
Hymn
James George Deck's influential 1841 Advent hymn, rooted in Plymouth Brethren hymnody and adopted across prom…
A nation God delights to bless
Hymn
Charles Wesley's 1762 patriotic hymn focusing on national peace, rooted in the text of Job 34:29 and preserve…
A solis ortus cardine (Translations and Structural Variants)
History
An index of the nineteenth-century English and German translations of Coelius Sedulius's hymn, detailing the …
A thousand oracles divine
Hymnology
An overview of Charles Wesley's intensely dogmatic Trinitarian hymn, tracing its publication history, denomin…
A widow poor, forlorn, oppressed
Hymnology
A publication summary of Charles Wesley's prayerful hymn based on the Gospels, tracing its history from a 176…
A. C. C.
History
The signature "A. C. C." used in The Hymnary (1872) to denote William Cooke, standing for "A Canon of Chester…
Abba Father! we approach Thee
Hymnology
A publication and editorial history of James George Deck's evangelical hymn centered on the theme of divine a…
Abba, gentle Jesus prayed
Hymnology
John Samuel Bewley Monsell's devotional hymn exploring Christ's intimate prayer to the Father, published in 1…
Abraham, when severely tried
Hymnology
A publication history of Charles Wesley's epic scriptural paraphrase on faith, detailing its origins in 1740 …
Accepted, Perfect, and Complete
Hymnology
A structural and publication chronicle of Frances Ridley Havergal's devotional hymn, tracing its specific scr…
Acquaint thee, O mortal
Hymnology
A structural account of William Knox's invitation hymn based on Job 22, detailing its initial compilation in …
Ad celebres, Rex coelice, laudes cuncta
Hymnology
A text-critical and manuscript chronicle of a historic Notkerian sequence for the Feast of Saint Michael, doc…
Ad templa nos rursus vocat
Hymnology
A publication and text-historical record of Charles Coffin’s morning hymn for Sunday Lauds, charting its intr…
Adam descended from above
Hymnology
A publication history of Charles Wesley's Lenten hymn, contrasting the primary text adopted into the standard…
Ades Pater supreme
History
Historical and liturgical entry for Prudentius's 5th-century evening hymn "Ades Pater supreme," detailing its…
Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes
History
Comprehensive entry for the celebrated Christmas hymn "Adeste fideles," tracing its origin, Latin textual tra…