Review date: Autumn 2003
Reviewed in: The Rutherford Journal of Church and Ministry
Reviewed by: Stephen Lockington, Mullingar
The advertising slogan for a well-known Games Console told us never to underestimate its power. The author of this Grove Booklet wishes to impress upon us the same idea when it comes to humns and songs in Christian worship. Her emphasis on their formative power is the heartbeat of this text; they shape the lives of people who sing them as faith is taught, trust is built, hope is brought and action is moulded.
The chapter headings give a flavour of what you will find within its pages: 'Teaching and Formation', 'Identity, Memory, Hope and Action', 'What are we singing today?', 'Hymns and Christian Formation'. These are preceded by a short introduction that concludes with a question relevant to many readers of RJCM: 'How can those who choose what is sung in church do so wisely, aware of what the effect might be?'. The warning from Brown comes in chapter 4; either pay careful attention to the formative power of the words chosen, or the Christian formation of a congregation through hymnody will be a hit and miss affair.
How Hymns Shape Our Lives covers many of the issues currently under the spotlight in the debate as to what is sung in public worship. Language, tunes, emotions, the theological illiteracy of a TV generation, and the 'I' texts of personal response are just some of these familiar themes. Statistical information is well used in strengthening Brown's thesis, as well as extensive interaction with the words of various hymns and songs. There is a case study into two hymns, Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here and Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, explaining what she believes to be their popularity and formative power. A section on hymns and the formation of children and young people worryingly concludes that their faith will rest on different foundations to those of earlier generations.
Ignore the formative power of hymns at your peril, enter into it for your good; this Grove Booklet certainly stimulates the reader to pursue the latter. Helpful, insightful, and like all good hymns, one's horizons broadened.
Reviewed in: ANVIL
Review date: 2002
Rosalind Brown working with OLM training in Salisbury has written a fascinating account of hymns and choruses. The book looks at the place of hymns in the worship and beliefs of the Christian. It is full of nuggets e.g. about the way holiness is portrayed in hymns from different centuries or the way we ask children to sing. There is clearly deeper research that has gone on. I hope that too will get published. If you choose hymns for worship, this book will help you do it more ably.