But we have seen a whole congregation in tears as they sang that fine old hymn, "Taking the parting hand." Who ever saw a tear start at the bidding of a choir? It was not the pathos of the poetry ...

Watts has been described as “the liberator of English hymnody” as his hymns moved people away from simply singing Old Testament psalms ... of hymnody known as “gospel” emerged.

This tune is one of the best known of all Christian melodies and gets its name, “Old Hundredth”, from its association with Kethe’s translation. A popular hymn for children and well-known by ...