I am a minister and homeschooling father who enjoys making a study of the background, authors, composers, and meaning of hymns. For those who wish to know, my name is Wayne S. Walker, I live in Salem, IL, and all the hymn studies on this weblog have been written by me. The background information is derived from various sources, but the Scripture outlines for the songs are strictly mine.
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hymnstudiesblog 
Greetings from Wordwise Hymns. For several years I found your site to be a valuable resource. Then, it disappeared, was no longer available. I was greatly disappointed. Are you back in business again? Are all the hymns from the old site available somewhere? Just wondered. God bless.
Thank you for your kind words. To answer your questions quickly, I simply moved the hymn studies blog from one server, which was going to remove all previous content and start over again, to WordPress. All the previous hymn studies which were at homeschoolblogger are now at the hymn studies blog on WordPress.
Note: The Wayback Machine can be used to view websites that are not available when you need them 🙂
Thanks for sharing, homeschoolbookreviewblog.
Thanks for the information. You’ve done some good work. However I see no Index or way to search by hymn anywhere. Is that something that you plan to add? Otherwise, it makes the content difficult to get to.
As you can see at my site (http://wordwisehymns.com/) the Almanac is accessible by date, and the Reflections are accessible by an index or a search. I’m also working at cross-linking things, so, for example, if you are reading about a hymn by Fanny Crosby, you can find other articles about her. That way, folks can hunt up favourite hymns, favourite authors, etc., or find out what happened in hymnology on a particular date.
Again, thanks for the work you’ve done. If there’s a way to look up a particular hymn and I missed it, please let me know.
God bless.
Robert
I’ll have to check, but I believe the hymn studies are accessible by date–there should be a calendar or at least a link to one on the right hand side, or by search–again, there should be a search box on the right.
I did check. When I’m using Internet Explorer, the calendar and search box are at the bottom of the page on the right, and as I scroll down to get to them, they keep scrolling down too, so that I never seem actually to reach them. They just keep disappearing, and if one doesn’t look quick he might not even notice them. However, when I’m using Google Chrome, they’re right up at the top on the right of the page, easy to see and ready to use. I’m not enough of a techno-nerd to understand it or do anything about it.
Hey,
Like Robert I followed your blog on occasion and then was sorry to see if vanish. Glad to have found it again!
Hi,
Great to have come across this blog today! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and work.
I’m part of a collective in Glasgow, Scotland called New Scottish Hymns. We’re writing new hymns and songs for the local church in a way that draws on the folk hymnwriting traditions of Scotland. Our aim is to help bridge the gap between the traditional hymns sung by many older congregations and the modern worship movement – trying to find common ground and encourage unity in the church. Our music can be heard at http://www.newscottishhymns.com
I would love to be able to discuss more with you- please do get in touch by email!
God bless,
Ellyn
I am thrilled to have found your blog today! While i was a student at Pepperdine, every time Jerry Rushford preached he ended with the history of a song. I’ve been hooked every since!
It’s encouraging to read of your love for the old hymns. I’ve been studying them, their history and meaning, since the early 60’s, and my blog Wordwise Hymns is the result. Over 400,000 visitors have come, from most of the countries of the world, to read about something over a thousand hymns that I’ve provided notes on–with more being added all the time. God bless.
Do you happen to have a list of songbooks arranged by members of the Church of Christ? Thanks.
I don’t offhand. I know that I’ve seen one online, maybe at Wikipedia, but I’m not absolutely sure where.
There is a songbook by Tillet S. Teddlie, but I do not know the publisher offhand. I have one copy and have not seen it used widely in churches of Christ. Such a pity.
I stumbled across your blog this evening when I had a tune running through my head. It was a We’ve a Story to Tell to The Nation’s. I was pleasantly surprised to find several renditions of it online and then was very pleased when I found your blog. While looking through your blog I was quite amazed at the amount of information that you have put together regarding many hymns. I look forward to coming by again very soon. Thank you for all your efforts in gathering this information together in one place.
Would it be all right if I were to repost your biographical information about hymn writer Lucida M. Beal Bateman (aka Grace Glenn) in the stories section of her genealogical information at FamilySearch.org? I would state that permission was given from your site (if you grant it). This is the link from your post that I am asking permission for: https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/quotsavior-grant-me-rest-and-peacequot/
Yes, you have my permission.
Good Evening, I too appreciate the time and effort you have dedicated to this source of information. Two years ago, some of my Brothers and Sisters at Sun Valley Church of Christ wanted a class to study spiritual songs. As a professor at Arizona State University, I understand the necessity to reference other’s research. In the future, please advise as to the exact nature of this citation and I will insert it within the PowerPoint Slides.
Can you tell me where I might find this recorded with all parts sung?
My husband would like to play it for some people so they can sing it.
Thank you for your work on this blog!
In case it’s interesting to you or your readers, I’ve uploaded a tutorial “How to Print Shape Note Music” on the http://www.instructables.com site:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Print-Shape-Note-Music-Introduction/
It includes access to an on-line entry tool that displays and prints music in the shape note style.
Best regards,
Ken Boyd
Thank you for this site it has been shown helpful to me as I am going to record a number of hymns soon. Knowing the story behind them has also been a huge help so thank you again.
The Wayback Machine is a great way to find lost blog articles; however, one has to know what the original articles were called to be able to find them that way. Do you mind publishing a list of article names you have used, so we can find them again?
Thank you so much for your blog! It really is a tremendous blessing! Would you mind doing an analysis of the hymn, “Jesus What a Friend for Sinners,” sometimes also called, “Our Great Savior”? This is a personal favorite hymn of mine. Thanks!
I’m glad you find the Hymn Studies blog helpful. I generally do hymn studies only on songs found in hymnbooks used in Churches of Christ, and for the most part “Our Great Savior” has not been included in those books. However, I will put it on my list.
Michael, You’ve likely learned “Jesus What A Friend For Sinners” is #257 from the popular hymnal, Songs Of Faith And Praise, West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing Co. Inc. 1994. This hymnal has been used in Churches of Christ for many, many years. Here is a link to some background on this J. Wilbur Chapman (lyrics) hymn: https://songscoops.blogspot.com/2012/03/jesus-what-friend-for-sinners-john.html
I need the music to this song, how do I get it?
Greetings. I loved your outline regarding the hymn “Beautiful Savior” and was wondering if I could have permission to print it in our monthly church newsletter. I would of course give the reference to this site with the article. Thank you
Douglas Rebeck
Church Secretary
Yes, you have permission. Thank you for giving the reference.
Thank you so much for these! I am a homeschooling mom and we study hymns once a week. I am really enjoying your work. It helps to bring out the meaningful lyrics in each stanza and connect it with Scripture.
Thank you.
the feast of the Annunciation.
Hi,
I am a minister for a Chinese Church of Christ. I would like to mention your name as a good reference for information on hymns. I have your website blog, but can’t seem to find your name anywhere. Would you mind giving me your name?
Bro. Allen Jang
Wayne S. Walker
H-m-m… Well, my name is in plain sight–on the header to the blog, right next to my picture. But the name of the blog is more important–Wordwise Hymns. Thanks for passing on the information to others. God bless. Robert
Do u know the story behind Charles Price Jones writing “I’ll Make the Darkness Light”
Unfortunately, no.
Good morning – I would like to use some of the information in one of your posts for an article in a magazine I publish for senior adults. Could you reach to out to me by email to abundantliving@harding.edu and I can reply with further information? Thank you! Teresa
I’ve finally found a site that answers questions. We find comfort, joy, healing and teachings from this. ☺️☺️
I bought your first book called Songs of Zion. Did you ever publish a second one? I did a lengthy class on singing with the understanding and found your work very helpful.
No, the publisher never asked for a second one. But all my material can be found on this weblog.
I just want to express my gratitude and appreciation for your wonderful work. I discovered your site while searching for the author of the song, Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.
God bless you and your family. ❤️
Hello, I ran across your blog site in a bio on J. W. Ferrill posted at Hymnary.org. My elderly mother is trying to locate one of Ferrill’s songs that her father sang often called “Blood Stained Trail”. Is there any chance you have one of the hymnals where that song was published and could share a scan of the tune? We found it interesting that one of the hymnals where it appears, “Zion Songs, Spiritual Hymns” was published in Ft. Worth by Quartet Music Co. which Mom is familiar with having grown up in Ft. Worth.
I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with the song “Blood Stained Trail” and have never seen in any of the hymnbooks which I have.
I do a daily Bible podcast as an over the road tucker and do hymn stories on sundays. Would it be ok to use some of your material and then reference you as a source?
Yes, by all means.
Please add my email to your list to receive posts! Thank you so much!
I can’t do this. You have to do it at WordPress, but I don’t know how to do so. Sorry.
Interested in knowing about citing this in work. The outlines of songs never have a writer attributed. Somebody had to have written it.
All the hymn studies at this weblog were written by Wayne S. Walker.
This is Eugene Sikes middle son Mark Sikes. You did I blog on his song God our loving father song it was very well written and accurate except for one point in there you said we lived in Washington DC we actually lived in Springfield Virginia and worked in Washington DC
Sincerely yours,
Mark Sikes
Thanks for the correction.
You have been a blessing and I want to use this medium to appreciate God in your life. Thanks a BUNCH
Tell me more about hymns I want to be encouraged
Thank you for doing this work. I am looking for a hymn with lyrics “from depths of sorrow and from the grave, my God is able, my God can save”, and “ in every trial He will be near”. That is all I can remember. We sang it in song practice in the early 1980 ‘s,
I just found your post and want more info on how to access your website! I’ve taught piano for many years and love to learn more about hymns, composers & lyricists! Do you have a book, DVD or CD available! Thanks for your labors of love to share this valuable information!
Susan Pope, Founder/Director
Ms. Susan’s School of Music
204 Harvest Lane
Greenwood,SC 29649
864-993-7664
Please I really like your work of explaining the hymns.
My question is how do I develop on the reflection of the Methodist gyms
Wayne, I am developing a book project called Hymns & Devotions for Daily Worship. We would like permission to reprint a devotion you wrote for “In Christ there is no east or west” in 2008. You can send me an email for more info. Chris Fenner (cjfenner@sbts.edu).