The Hymn-Book of the Modern Church: Brief studies of hymns and hymn-writers

The author presents a series of concise essays that define qualities of a true hymn, survey biblical and early‑church song, and trace the development of English hymnody from the sixteenth through the nineteenth century. Special attention is given to eighteenth‑century influences including the school of Watts, Methodist revivalists and the Olney collection, while later chapters examine Anglican, Free Church, and Roman Catholic hymn‑making and recent hymnals and translations. The text combines critical criteria, illustrative quotations, historical narrative, and indexes to guide readers through sources, styles, and editorial practice.