The Hymnal

The collection of hymns, tunes, and service music authorized for use in the Episcopal Church by the General Convention.   

The Hymnal (1940) drew on various sources for hymn texts in addition to British and American authors. The music edition for The Hymnal (1940) was prepared by the Joint Commission on Church Music, with Douglas as musical editor. It was published in 1943.

Before the 1982 revision of the Hymnal, the Standing Commission on Church Music adopted a philosophy statement in 1981 for hymnal revision. This statement agreed that the Hymnal should be a companion for the new 1979 Book of Common Prayer, supporting its changes and areas of emphasis. such as the expanded Lectionary, the revised Calendar, and the renewed emphasis on baptism as a public rite; the Hymnal should retain classic texts but also present a prophetic vision, speaking to the church of the future as well as the present; hymn texts should authentically and fully present the church's teaching, with the Hymnal serving as a practical book of theology for the people of God; the Hymnal should be comprehensive in its coverage of all major historic periods, reflecting and speaking to a variety of cultures and races; hymn texts should use inclusive language whenever possible; obscure language should be clarified for contemporary use; the Hymnal should be ecumenical in nature, although it is prepared for use in the Episcopal Church; the Hymnal should be a practical collection, with keyboard settings that can be used by a performer with average skills; the Hymnal should present various musical possibilities when tunes are used more than once; and the Hymnal should present a variety of musical styles that represent the best expressive artistic creativity of musicians.

The Hymnal 1982 provides a major section of Service Music for the Daily Office, the Great Litany; Proper Liturgies for Special Days, Baptism, Eucharist, and Canticles; Hymns for the Daily Office, the Church Year, Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Burial of the Dead, Ordination, Consecration of a Church, General Hymns (arranged by thematic categories such as “Praise to God,” “Christian Vocation and Pilgrimage,” and “The Church Triumphant”), the Christian Life, Rounds and Canons, and National Songs; along with Indexes for the volume. The Hymnal 1982 includes 720 hymns.