Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
Ah, why am I left to complain
History
Hymnological entry for Charles Wesley's Lenten hymn "Ah, why am I left to complain," detailing its publicatio…
Ah, wretched souls who strive in vain
History
Hymnological entry for Anne Steele's eighteenth-century Lenten hymn "Ah, wretched souls who strive in vain," …
Ah, wretched, vile, ungrateful heart
History
Hymnological entry for Anne Steele's Lenten hymn "Ah, wretched, vile, ungrateful heart," detailing its public…
Alanus de Insulis (Alain de Lille)
History
An overview of the medieval poet and theologian Alanus de Insulis, known as "Doctor Universalis," author of A…
Alas! and did my Saviour bleed
History
An in-depth historical profile of Isaac Watts's monumental 1707 Passion hymn, detailing its theological impac…
Alas! by nature how depraved
History
John Newton's 1779 Lenten hymn exploring human depravity and divine adoption based on Jeremiah 3:19, original…
Alas! what hourly dangers rise
History
Anne Steele's 1760 hymn on Christian vigilance and prayer, detailing its biblical roots in Matthew 26 and its…
Ales diei nuntius
History
An overview of Aurelius Clemens Prudentius's ancient Latin morning hymn "Ales diei nuntius," its liturgical u…
Aliquis
History
Note on Aliquis, the pseudonym under which the 1821 collection Hymns for Villagers was published.
All around us, fair with flowers
History
Overview of the anonymous American hymn "All around us, fair with flowers," published in prominent nineteenth…
All creation groans and travails
History
History of John Mason Neale's cattle plague hymn "All creation groans and travails," written during the Briti…
All from the sun's uprise
History
Account of George Sandys's seventeenth-century metrical paraphrase of Psalm 100, "All from the sun's uprise."
All glorious God, what hymns of praise
History
History of Philip Doddridge's eighteenth-century hymn of praise "All glorious God, what hymns of praise," bas…
All glory and praise to Jesus our Lord
History
Overview of Charles Wesley's hymn "All glory and praise to Jesus our Lord," written on the gift of the Holy S…
All glory to God in the sky
History
Summary of Charles Wesley's Christmas hymn "All glory to God in the sky," published in Hymns for the Nativity…
All glory to our gracious Lord
History
An overview of Charles Wesley's twenty-two stanza paraphrase of Psalm 118, "All glory to our gracious Lord," …
All hail the glorious morn
Hymnology
Account of John Peacock's eighteenth-century hymn "All hail the glorious morn," focused on the resurrection a…
All hail, dear Conqueror, all hail
History
Overview of Frederick William Faber's Easter hymn "All hail, dear Conqueror, all hail," originally titled "Je…
All hail, Incarnate God
History
Overview of Elizabeth Scott's eighteenth-century hymn "All hail, Incarnate God," written on the glory and per…
All hail, mysterious King
History
Overview of Philip Doddridge's eighteenth-century hymn "All hail, mysterious King," based on Revelation 22:16.