The Old Hymn Book

In church yesterday Elspeth handed me a small book. The cover read, ‘Sacred Songs and Solos… compiled and sung by Ira D. Sankey’. Inside the cover was written, ‘Miss M Shales… Lowestoft 4.8.1906.

In my childhood a big purple ‘Sankey’s’ – music edition – lived on our piano… I imagined Miss Shales singing from her copy in a Lowestoft church or chapel… a choir… accompanied by a hand-pumped organ or harmonium…

Last year Daughter-Jo gave me a copy of ‘Golden Bells’ (dated 1925). That took me back to my childhood too. We sung from Golden Bells in our chapel; I carried my Bible and Golden Bells to church every Sunday morning, to Sunday School every Sunday afternoon.

In our morning service we sung unaccompanied; Dad led the singing. At Sunday School our singing was accompanied by a piano…

Yesterday in church there were no hymn books; our song words were projected onto the wall. There was no organ or piano; there were guitars, drums and an electric keyboard. The singing was led by singers using microphones.

Playing in the band I was reminded of days when I led school choirs, encouraging the children to listen to the instruments and other singers… listening to blend the music of others with the music they were making…

Rowan Williams describes a music therapist working with an autistic child:

‘You let the child make what noise it wants to with the instruments… listen with all your attention until some kind of pattern or rhythm begins to emerge… you gradually begin to make some kind of noise yourself that echoes what the child is producing…’

‘…So it is with our co-operation with and response to the Word of God: we must listen intently for the rhythm of divine life… and gradually learn to echo it and make sounds in union with it.’

Singing from Sankey’s, Golden Bells, or projected words is about bringing a joyful noise of praises to our God. It’s also about listening for the divine rhythm and learning to echo it.