Church Music Survey Results Revealed
Episcopal News Service. September 7, 1978 [78248]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Standing Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church received more than 10,000 responses to the Hymnal survey taken last January in churches across the country to gather information from Episcopalians concerning music in worship and the use of hymns.
The Commission was mandated by General Convention in 1976 to "develop materials and plans for the updating of The Hymnal 1940." This survey was a first step in this process of providing an enriched Hymnal which will complement both the Proposed Book of Common Prayer and the expanded Lectionary, as well as meet the needs of the Episcopal Church in the years to come.
The results of the survey showed the importance which Episcopalians place on music in worship. In the survey, 90 percent of the respondents said they always or frequently enjoyed singing hymns, while 80 percent liked to have the Service Music sung. However, the Psalms were usually sung only by 24 percent. The reasons for the popularity of a "favorite hymn" varied: for 34 percent, "it has a special meaning;" for 25 percent, it was because "the tune is familiar; " for 23 percent, "it has a meaningful text;" and for 18 percent, it was a favorite because it was "learned as a child."
The survey also showed that 72 percent were taught at some time to sing a hymn, while only 49 percent were ever taught Anglican chant.
Interesting information concerning the use of hymns outside worship was revealed by the survey: 68 percent frequently or occasionally use a hymn as a prayer, while 45 percent use a hymn for study. Hymns were used for personal worship by 66 percent, and about the same number said they used hymns not only in church.
Many people have their own copy of a hymnal, with 49 percent owning The Hymnal 1940, and 33 percent having a hymnal of another denomination. Fifty-five percent owned a copy of The Proposed Book of Common Prayer.
The responses were fairly evenly divided to the question, "Which of these three groups contains the hymns which you most enjoy singing?" Thirty-two percent picked Group 3 ("Weary of earth and laden with my sin;" "Now the day is over;" "O Love that wilt not let me go;" "Fling out the banner;" "What a friend we have in Jesus.")
Twenty-nine percent chose Group 1 ("Wake, awake, for night is flying;" "Christians, to the Paschal Victim;" "Come down, O Love divine;" "Sometimes a light surprises;" "Ye watchers and ye holy ones.")
Twenty-six percent preferred Group 2 ("On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry;" "Spirit of mercy, truth, and love;" "Praise to the living God;" "O Word of God incarnate;" "Thy kingdom come, O God."
The question requesting suggestions of new material to be included in the Hymnal brought many varied ideas which are being carefully studied by the Commission.
As the next step in this process, all clergy and organists/ch¢ir directors have been sent a detailed questionnaire concerning the words and music of all 600 hymns, the Two Supplements, and the Eight Communion Services of The Hymnal 1940. The results of this questionnaire, to be tabulated during October, will guide the Standing Commission on Church Music as it continues its evaluation of the Hymnal.