This post – and the following two – will focus on the contributions to hymnody of three very influential figures from England – Fred Pratt Green – Brian Wren – and – Erik Routley.
Today – Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000) – a British Methodist pastor and hymn writer. “His hymns reflect his rejection of fundamentalism and show his concern with social issues. They include many that were written to supply obvious liturgical needs of the modern church, speaking to topics or appropriate for events for which there were few traditional hymns available.”
One of those texts – “When in Our Music God Is Glorified”* – is generally matched to the sturdy hymn tune ENGELBERG composed by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924).
When in our music God is gloified, and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried: Alleluia!
How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound,
as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!
So has the Church, in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
borne witness to the truth in every tongue: Alleuia!
And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night when utmost evil strove against the light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight: Alleluia!
Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always: Alleluia!
*Words © 1972 Hope Publishing Company.
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