Dictionary of Hymnology
Learn hymn terms, meters, forms, and the history behind Christian worship music — curated for hymn lovers, worship leaders, and students.
A debtor to mercy alone
Hymn
Augustus Montague Toplady's celebrated hymn on the assurance of faith, first published in the Gospel Magazine…
A pilgrim through this lonely world
Hymn
Sir Edward Denny's solemn 1839 Passiontide hymn detailing Christ's earthly isolation, popular within Plymouth…
Ad perennis vitae fontem mens sitivit arida
Hymnology
A text-critical history of Cardinal Peter Damiani's celebrated sequence on the Glory of Paradise, examining i…
Ad regias Agni dapes
History
A publication registry of the classicized Roman Breviary revision of the Easter hymn 'Ad coenam Agni providi,…
Ad templa nos rursus vocat
Hymnology
A publication and text-historical record of Charles Coffin’s morning hymn for Sunday Lauds, charting its intr…
Adoro Te devote, latens Deitas
History
Detailed history of St. Thomas Aquinas's famous Eucharistic hymn "Adoro Te devote," tracing its origins, litu…
Aeterna coeli gloria
History
Hymnological profile of the fifth-century Friday Lauds hymn "Aeterna coeli gloria," detailing its manuscript …
Aeterna lux, Divinitas
History
Hymnological profile of the anonymous Trinity Sunday hymn "Aeterna lux, Divinitas," tracing its printed sourc…
Aeterne Rector siderum
History
Hymnological profile of Cardinal Bellarmine's Guardian Angels hymn "Aeterne Rector siderum," detailing its in…
Aeterni Festi gaudia and Aeterni Patris Unice
History
Hymnological profile of two notable Latin texts: Adam of St. Victor's sequence "Aeterni Festi gaudia" for St.…
Almum flamen, vita mundi
Hymnology
Details on the Latin Whitsuntide hymn "Almum flamen, vita mundi" and its English translations.
Cecil Frances Alexander
History
Biographical account of Cecil Frances Alexander, the renowned Irish hymnwriter whose timeless works for child…