We threw a few questions Chris’s way:
Chris, a 2030 Hymnal? Six years seems like such a long time. Why will it take that long?
Six years is a long time, yes, absolutely! I think several things are important to keep in mind about the process of creating a hymnal, which is not unlike the process undertaken to compile the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, which took a similar amount of time. Projects like this one are the production of a committee of people, representing different areas of focus in the worship life of the Church. Gathering people together, most of whom are musicians and clergy already engaged in full-time ministry in a parish setting, takes plenty of time!
There are 12 people on the Commission. How will the work be organized?
Our work will be divided among four sub-committees:
- Hymns of the Anglican patrimony (think hymns distinctive of the English Cathedral tradition, that which composes the repertoire of our latest hymnals of 1940, 1982, and the REC’s Book of Common Praise, 2017)
- Hymns of ecumenical/global significance
- Hymns, choruses, & spiritual songs of the last half-century
- Service music for BCP 2019, both ordinary and traditional language texts
Bishop Edgar And Chris Walchesky Named To ACNA Hymnal Commission https://t.co/SQXLAIlisJ [Saint Philip's, Charleston, SC; Molly Hare] #anglican #music #hymnal #parishministry #southcarolina pic.twitter.com/beO1XELXDt
— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) October 24, 2023