Hymns are like prayers; Christians will continue to write hymns just as Christians will continue to pray. Here's a hymn by William Cowper:

My singing is a prayer, O Lord,
A prayer of thanks and praise;
In music, Lord, I worship thee;
Thy beauty fills my days.

I give my talents, Lord, to thee,
My mind and heart and voice,
For thou alone art worthy, Lord;
In thee I do rejoice.

Accept the worship of my heart,
Accept my music, too:
Help me to live always for thee,
Lord, keep me strong and true.

O bless me, Lord, and help me sing
Thy love so full and free;
And bless all those who listen, Lord,
Help them to worship thee.

Another insight can be found in an article by Carol Doran and Thomas Troeger (“Writing hymns as a theologically informed artistic discipline,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Carol Doran and Thomas H. Troeger, April 1985, p. 7-11, used by permission):

Again and again . . . we discover how people respond with power to what is beautiful. We are not talking here about aesthetes thrilling to a precious experience, but a heartfelt response of people glimpsing something of the wonder of God through the rhapsodic prose of inspired human expression.

. . . beauty is one of the transcendental realities of God and a primary means by which God draws us to what is true and good.

... we aim to expand [the landscape of the heart]. Afterall, is that not why we love singing hymns? -- because when we give ourselves to God in songful praise we see visions of how much more God made us to be than we are, and in that moment of eternal perspective we are opened to being the agents of God's justice and love.

Interviews with Hymn Writers

Richard Leach on writing hymns
Marnie Barrell on writing hymns

Interviews with Tune Writers

Alfred V. Fedak
Richard Proulx

Interviews with Hymn Writers on Music in Worship

Richard Leach on worship

Carl P. Daw, Jr. on choosing hymns for worship

Gracia Grindall on 'Contemporary vs. Traditional'

Tom Troeger on 'Music as a form of Pastoral Care'

Interviews with Church Musicians

Jayson Rod Engquist on 'Using Instruments in Worship'
Austin Lovelace

WEB Pages/Sites by Successful Contemporary Hymn Writers

Brian Wren ; also see Partners in Praise
Ruth Duck
Thomas Troeger
Carl P. Daw, Jr.
Shirley Erena Murray
Timothy Dudley-Smith; also see Timothy Dudley-Smith
Gracia Grindal
Fred Kaan

also see, Movers & Shakers

Some Practical Suggestions for Writing Hymns

Timothy Dudley-Smith (from “What Makes a Good Hymn Text,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Timothy Dudley-Smith, January 1985, p. 14-18, used by permission):

- It must be true to divine revelation in Scripture.
- It must be true to the generality of Christian experience.
- It must spring from some "artistic impression" -- some inner vision.

Hymn writing is more akin to the practical arts rather than existing as an artform. Hymn writer as an artisan (architect, potter)

- It must achieve some standard "technical merit" -- that is of execution It must have something to distinguish it from the half-million or so hymns written thus far.

1. structure: a pattern of ordered thought
2. a balance between subjective and objective
3. a meter suited to its theme
4. a need for a climax -- something to end the hymn
5. good syntax -- (smoothness, complete thoughts within each line.)
6. good "sound techniques" such as assonance, alliteration and rhyme.

Brian Wren (from “Making Your Own Hymn,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 142 (Vol.IX, May 1978), Brian Wren, p. 21-38).

- simple to understand
- use language that is near to normal speech
- a memorable 1st line
- use few adjectives, and those that are used are irreplaceable.
- avoid archaic words and phrases; sentimental words; rare or technical words;
- avoid too much inversion for the sake of rhyme: “Henceforth thy going out and in God keep for ever will”
- Be critical of your words as spoken (don't be seduced by the tune) [Some thoughts on this one later -- DL]
- Be your own most severe critic.

Some Exercises in Hymn Writing

Try writing an additional stanza to an existing hymn:

In Christ there is no East or West
All things bright and beautiful

Try setting a short passage of scripture in metered, rhymed verse. Psalms work well (see Metrical Psalmody).

Many people have responded to the tragic events of Sept. 11 by writing new hymns. See many of these at the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada: News and Comments

Hymn Writing Competitions

The Christian Faith and The Environment - sponsored by Christian Ecology Link [deadline, Sept. 30, 2001]

Christ Church Cathedral, Lousiville, KY [deadline, Sept. 15, 2001]. Also, tune competion. Deadline for tune is March 15, 2002.

Millennial Hymn Text Competition, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary [deadline,May 1, 2000]

Winning hymn of Calvin College's 125th Anneversary

The Waldo Beach Hymnody Endowment is named after a professor emeritus of the Duke Divinity School and avid author and composer of hymns who resides in Durham, NC.The Beach endowment has enabled the Duke University Chapel to sponsor three hymn-writing competitions.

Submissions to New Hymnals

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod -- see FAQ's about the New LCMS Hymnal

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is currently preparing a new worship book with publication anticipated in late 2006. Newly written hymns (texts or tunes) may be submitted to: Hymn Submission Commission on Worship 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd. St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 Deadline for submissions is January 1, 2002. This announcement was posted on 'News and Comments' at The Hymn Society - Wednesday, May 02, 2001.

Hymn Writing Classes

The 2001 Hymn Writing Class - College Park Church of Christ, College Part, MD.

Artilces on Hymn Writing in Academic Journals (arranged by year)

“Hymn-Writing for the Twenty-First Century,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 222 (Vol.XVI, January 2000), Andrew Pratt, p. 17.

“My Hymn-Writing Journey,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Fred Kaan, July 1996, p. 13.

“The hymns in Lutheran Worship. Hymn writing and translating,” Lutheran worship. St Louis : Concordia Pub House, 1993, p.488-499.

“For Whom the Bell Toils. [writing "new hymns"; interview by Emily R Brink of John Bell],” Reformed Worship , Vol. no 27 (Mr 1993), p. 23-25

“Helps for Aspiring Hymn Writers,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, E. Margaret Clarkson, April 1991, p. 26.

“What Makes a Good Hymn Text,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Timothy Dudley-Smith, January 1985, p. 14.

“Writing Hymns as a Theologically Informed Artistic Discipline,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Carol Doran and Thomas H. Troeger, April 1985, p. 7.

“Approaches to Hymn Writing,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, E. Margaret Clarkson; Carl P. Daw, Jr., April 1984, p. 78.

“Approaches to Writing Hymn Tunes,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Hampton, Marshall, Reynolds, Schalk, April, 1984, p. 75.

“Pitfalls in Hymn Writing,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Gracia Grindal., April 1984, p. 82.

“Basic tools for Hymn Writers,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Austin Lovelace., April 1984, p. 75.

“Writing Hymn Texts and Tunes: Intervies with Brian Wren and Peter Cutts,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, April 1984, p. 71.

“What Hymnal Committeees Look For,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Batastini, Glover, Revell, Vajda, April, 1984.

“Genesis of a Hymn,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 138 (Vol.IX, Sept. 1978), Brian Wren, p. 39.

“Making Your Own Hymn,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 142 (Vol.IX, May 1978), Brian Wren, p. 21.

“The Hymn Today: I. The Challenge of the Words,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 138 (Vol.VIII, January 1977), Brian Wren, p. 197.

“The Hymn Today: II. The Challenge of the Music,” Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 138 (Vol.VIII, January 1977), John Wilson, p. 205.

“Language: A Lost Craft Among Hymnwriters,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Gracia Grindal, 27:43, April 1976.

“Hymns for the Times,”Journal of the HSGB&I, Bulletin 142 (Vol.VIII, February 1975), Raymond Hall, p. 95.

“Hymn writing today,” The Hymn, Journal of the HSUS&C, Fred Pratt Green, October 1971, p. 118-120.

See Selah Publishing Co.'s Music in Worship. Great resource for 'Philosophy of Church Music', 'Music in Worship', etc.