In many Evangelical churches, traditional songs are classified as hymns while more contemporary worship songs are not considered hymns. The music to which a hymn may be sung is a hymn tune. A student of hymnody is called a hymnologist, and the scholarly study of hymns, hymnists and hymnody is hymnology. A collection of hymns is called a hymnal or hymnary. 'nineteenth century Methodist hymnody' would mean the body of hymns written and/or used by Methodists in the 19th century). 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen' An early (possibly 15th century) British Christmas carol sung by the Carol Singers 'A mighty fortress' A writer of hymns is known as a hymnist or hymnodist, and the practice of singing hymns is called hymnody the same word is used for the collectivity of hymns belonging to a particular denomination or period (e.g. Some hymns praise or address individual saints, particularly the Blessed Virgin Mary such hymns are particularly prevalent in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and to some extent High Church Anglicanism. Others are used to encourage reverence for the Holy Bible or to celebrate Christian practices such as the eucharist or baptism. It should be simple and metrical in form, genuinely emotional, poetic and literary in style, spiritual in quality, and in its ideas so direct and so immediately apparent as to unify a congregation while singing it.' Christian hymns are often written with special or seasonal themes and these are used on holy days such as Christmas, Easter and the Feast of All Saints, or during particular seasons such as Advent and Lent. One definition of a hymn is '.a lyric poem, reverently and devotionally conceived, which is designed to be sung and which expresses the worshipper's attitude toward God or God's purposes in human life. Since the earliest times, Christians have sung 'psalms and hymns and spiritual songs', both in private devotions and in corporate worship (Matthew 26:30 Mark 14:26 Acts 16:25 1 Cor 14:26 Ephesians 5:19 Colossians 3:16 James 5:13 cf. Many refer to Jesus Christ either directly or indirectly.

Hymns were originally modeled on the Psalms and other poetic passages (commonly referred to as 'canticles') in the Scriptures, Christian hymns are generally directed as praise to the Christian God.

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