New English Hymnal

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The New English Hymnal is an Anglican hymn book and liturgical source first published as such in 1986. It was published by The Canterbury Press now SCM Canterbury Press, but copyright is held by The English Hymnal Company Limited. It was published in the style (and distinctive green colour scheme)[1] of the older work The English Hymnal, first published in 1906, of which it is very much an updated version, having a very high percentage overlap of music. A few hymns from the 1906 version are dropped, whilst a large number of newer or re-written hymns are added in,[2] most of which had previously appeared in the 1906 book's later supplement English Praise.[3] By general consent, NEH proved to be a reasonable, yet essentially conservative, revision and enjoys continuing favour in a very considerable number of Cathedrals and Collegiate Chapels world-wide; its extensive provision of hymns for Saints' Days and mid-week religious festivals has proved popular with those schools still maintaining hymn-singing in daily acts of worship. The Chairman of the English Hymnal Company of the day, Archdeacon George Timms, was general editor of NEH and the acclaimed musical editor was Anthony Caesar, Subdean of the Chapel Royal with significant assistance from Professor Arthur Hutchings, Dr Christopher Dearnley and Michael Fleming. A supplement to the New English Hymnal - New English Praise - was published in May 2006 under the general editorship of the Directors of The English Hymnal Company chaired by The Venerable Martin Draper, OBE, formerly Archdeacon of France. Michael Fleming [who, like Archdeacon Draper, had been heavily involved in the issuing of the New English Hymnal twenty years previous] played a notable part in the musical preparation, as did Dr Simon Lindley of Leeds Parish Church, Christopher Moore of Grahamstown Cathedral, South Africa and the Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor. A considerable amount of additional liturgical material was added, including two special canticle settings composed by Colin Mawby at the invitation of the editors, together with many psalm settings and plainchant accompaniments by Simon Lindley.

[edit] See also

As this work is an updated version of its predecessor, this article should be read in conjunction with:

[edit] References

  1. ^ See here for more information.
  2. ^ See here for a complete hymn list.
  3. ^ See this Agentsmith quotation from the Oxford University Press concerning their involvement with English Praise, and the transfer of hymns to the NEH.