A Plea for Hymn Books

Screens have replaced hymn books in very many of our churches. But in gaining flexibility and storage space, what have we lost?

‘I loved that hymn we sang last week,’ said a friend. ‘I wish I could remember what it was.’ The words had reminded him of something he had found helpful in a sermon, but the words had appeared on a screen – and then disappeared. His only hope was to ring the organist and ask what the hymns were, but few of us are likely to do that. How much better would it have been if he could have kept the service paper, or looked the words up in his hymn book at home!

It has become fashionable to dispense with hymn books, but they have a number of advantages over screens. Here are three.... Read More