Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
A beautiful land by faith I see
Hymn
A popular nineteenth-century Sunday School hymn about Heaven, first published anonymously in 1862 and later a…
A car of fire is on the air
History
A striking nineteenth-century hymn on death and burial written by William Winstanley Hull and published in 18…
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 children's temple here we build
Hymn
James Montgomery's 1840 hymn written specifically for the opening of the first Sunday School building in Winc…
A debtor to mercy alone
Hymn
Augustus Montague Toplady's celebrated hymn on the assurance of faith, first published in the Gospel Magazine…
A few more years shall roll
Hymn
Horatius Bonar's celebrated New Year's hymn of pilgrimage, first printed in 1842 for his Kelso congregation a…
A form of words though e'er so sound
Hymn
Joseph Hart's 1759 hymn on the spiritual power of the Kingdom of God, based on First Corinthians 4:20 and fav…
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 Friend there is; your voices join
Hymn
Joseph Swain’s poignant 1791 hymn on Christ’s friendship, composed following the tragic loss of his only son.
A fulness resides in Jesus our Head
History
John Fawcett's 1782 hymn on the sufficiency of Christ, first published in his collected hymns and later popul…
A glance from heaven, with sweet effect
Hymn
John Newton's 1775 nature hymn reflecting on lightning in the night, published in the Olney Hymns and include…
A good High Priest is come
History
John Cennick's 1744 hymn on the priesthood of Christ, compiled by George Whitefield and John Rippon for wides…
A little child the Saviour came
Hymn
William Robertson’s beautiful 1861 baptismal hymn, which was historically misattributed in American hymnals t…
A little flock! So calls He thee
Hymn
Horatius Bonar's expansive 1857 poem on the Church, published in Hymns of Faith and Hope and adapted into var…
A little ship was on the sea
Hymn
Dorothy Ann Thrupp’s highly popular nineteenth-century children's hymn illustrating the biblical narrative of…
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 mighty mystery we set forth
History
George Rawson's 1857 baptismal hymn exploring the spiritual union of the believer with Christ's death and res…
A mourning class, a vacant seat
Hymn
An anonymous 1835 Sunday School hymn composed to comfort classmates after the death of a fellow student, wide…
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 Patre Unigenitus
History
An anonymous Latin Epiphany hymn originating between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, notable for its uniq…
A children's temple here we build
Hymn
James Montgomery's 1840 hymn written specifically for the opening of the first Sunday School building in Winc…
A debtor to mercy alone
Hymn
Augustus Montague Toplady's celebrated hymn on the assurance of faith, first published in the Gospel Magazine…
A few more years shall roll
Hymn
Horatius Bonar's celebrated New Year's hymn of pilgrimage, first printed in 1842 for his Kelso congregation a…
A form of words though e'er so sound
Hymn
Joseph Hart's 1759 hymn on the spiritual power of the Kingdom of God, based on First Corinthians 4:20 and fav…
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 Friend there is; your voices join
Hymn
Joseph Swain’s poignant 1791 hymn on Christ’s friendship, composed following the tragic loss of his only son.
A fulness resides in Jesus our Head
History
John Fawcett's 1782 hymn on the sufficiency of Christ, first published in his collected hymns and later popul…
A glance from heaven, with sweet effect
Hymn
John Newton's 1775 nature hymn reflecting on lightning in the night, published in the Olney Hymns and include…
A good High Priest is come
History
John Cennick's 1744 hymn on the priesthood of Christ, compiled by George Whitefield and John Rippon for wides…
A little child the Saviour came
Hymn
William Robertson’s beautiful 1861 baptismal hymn, which was historically misattributed in American hymnals t…
A little flock! So calls He thee
Hymn
Horatius Bonar's expansive 1857 poem on the Church, published in Hymns of Faith and Hope and adapted into var…
A little ship was on the sea
Hymn
Dorothy Ann Thrupp’s highly popular nineteenth-century children's hymn illustrating the biblical narrative of…
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 mighty mystery we set forth
History
George Rawson's 1857 baptismal hymn exploring the spiritual union of the believer with Christ's death and res…
A mourning class, a vacant seat
Hymn
An anonymous 1835 Sunday School hymn composed to comfort classmates after the death of a fellow student, wide…
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 Patre Unigenitus
History
An anonymous Latin Epiphany hymn originating between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, notable for its uniq…