The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aims to promote the study and use of Christian hymns. As of 2024, the society comprises around 450 members, including hymn writers, composers, editors, and members of the clergy, plus 50 subscribing libraries and institutions.[1]
The Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland| Abbreviation | HSGBI |
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| Formation | 1936; 88 years ago (1936) |
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| Founder | J. R. Fleming |
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| Purpose | To encourage the study, research and practice of hymns |
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Membership | 450 |
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Executive President | Martin Leckebusch |
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Honorary President | Lord Williams of Oystermouth |
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Editor of The Bulletin | Andrew Pratt |
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| Website | hymnsocietygbi.org.uk |
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History
The society was founded in 1936 by Dr J. R. Fleming for the purpose of:[2]
- encouraging study and research in Hymnody
- promoting good standards of hymn-singing
- encouraging the discerning use of hymns and songs in worship
- sponsoring relevant publications
In the years after its creation, the Society set itself the task of updating John Julian's 1892 Dictionary of Hymnology.[3]
Activity
The Society's primary actions are the production of a Newsletter and Bulletin four times per year containing articles and research on hymns and hymnody, as well as publishing additional Papers on topics in greater depth. It also works closely with sister Societies around the world, including the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada and International Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hymnologie in Germany.[1]
Each July, the Society holds a three-day conference of talks and workshops, culminating in a large event known since 2003 as The Festival of Hymns, and prior to that was called the Act of Praise.[1] The first Conference was held in Oxford in 1948.
Act of Praise / Festival of Hymns
A central part of the Hymn Society's annual Conference, the Festival of Hymns (or Act of Praise as it was known prior to 2003) has been held in the following locations.
| Year | Location |
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| 1948 | Mansfield College, Oxford |
| 1949 | not held |
| 1950 | Jesus College, Cambridge |
| 1951 | Oxford |
| 1952 | not held |
| 1953 | Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 1954 | Victoria Hall, Sheffield |
| 1955 | not held |
| 1956 | West Croydon Methodist Church |
| 1957 | Highbury Congregational Church, Bristol |
| 1958 | Mansfield College, Oxford |
| 1959 | Canterbury Baptist Church |
| 1960 | Emmanuel Congregational Church, Cambridge |
| 1961 | The Chapel, Lambeth Palace |
| 1962 | Tyndale Baptist Church, Bristol |
| 1963 | Malvern College Chapel |
| 1964 | St Nicholas' Church, East Dereham |
| 1965 | Charterhouse School Chapel |
| 1966 | Little St Mary's, Cambridge |
| 1967 | St Mary's Church, Primrose Hill |
| 1968 | Cheltenham College Chapel |
| 1969 | Liverpool Anglican Cathedral |
| 1970 | Charterhouse School Chapel |
| 1971 | St Mary's Baptist Church, Norwich |
| 1972 | St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol |
| 1973 | Nottingham Cathedral |
| 1974 | Wesley Chapel, York |
| 1975 | Tabernacle Chapel, Cardiff |
| 1976 | Norwich Cathedral |
| 1977 | Salisbury Cathedral |
| 1978 | Manchester Cathedral |
| 1979 | Carrs Lane Church, Birmingham |
| 1980 | Southernhay United Reformed Church, Exeter |
| 1981 | Keble College, Oxford |
| 1982 | Gloucester Cathedral |
| 1983 | Durham Cathedral |
| 1984 | Chichester Cathedral |
| 1985 | Methodist Central Hall, Coventry |
| 1986 | Guildford Cathedral |
| 1987 | Leeds Parish Church |
| 1988 | Tyndale Baptist Church, Bristol |
| 1989 | Glasgow University Chapel |
| 1990 | The Parish Church, Llanfairfechan |
| 1991 | St Botolph's Church, Colchester |
| 1992 | Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas, Liverpool |
| 1993 | Winchester United Church |
| 1994 | St George's Church, Jesmond |
| 1995 | St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham |
| 1996 | St Mary Clement Methodist Church, Truro |
| 1997 | St Olave's Church, York |
| 1998 | St Mary's Baptist Church, Norwich |
| 1999 | St Peter's Church, Lampeter |
| 2000 | Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin |
| 2001 | Bradford Cathedral |
| 2002 | Wesleyan Chapel, Bishop Street, Leicester |
| 2003 | Canterbury Cathedral |
| 2004 | Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh |
| 2005 | Chester Cathedral |
| 2006 | St Martin's Church, Dorking |
| 2007 | All Saints' Church, Northampton |
| 2008 | Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas, Liverpool |
| 2009 | St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh |
| 2010 | St Oswald's Church, Durham |
| 2011 | Waltham Abbey Church |
| 2012 | Trinity United Reformed Church, Lancaster |
| 2013 | Derby Cathedral |
| 2014 | St Mary's Church, Charlton Kings |
| 2015 | St Columba's United Reformed Church, Cambridge |
| 2016 | St Salvator's Chapel, St Andrews |
| 2017 | Christ Church, Carmarthen |
| 2018 | St Michael & All Angels Church, Cherry Burton |
| 2019 | Canterbury Cathedral |
| 2020 | not held |
| 2021 | not held |
| 2022 | Blackburn Cathedral |
| 2023 | Lincoln |
The Editors of The Bulletin have been:[3]
References