A HOUSE OF PRAISE (PART 2)
Collected Hymns 2002–2013
By Timothy Dudley-Smith
Oxford University Press. 353 pages. £21.95
ISBN 978 0 193 403 772
Long before we had heard of Townend or Getty or Sovereign Grace Music, Timothy Dudley-Smith (TDS) was writing hymns: scriptural, doctrinal, devotional hymns.
His output over more than 50 years can only be described as prodigious and it includes some now established classics such as ‘Tell out, my soul’ and ‘Lord, for the years’. He has written numerous hymns for Christmas out of a long-held habit of penning a new one every year for his personal Christmas card.
This particular collection includes his writings of the last ten years (more than 130 pieces) and as such is a continuation of a former collection also published by OUP.
No trouble to sing
These are hymn words – TDS’s gift lies with words not music. But that is not to say that they lack musicality. Every hymn is composed to a rigorous rhyme/rhythm scheme and it is TDS’s confessed modus operandi gen-erally to start with a particular metre in his head. This is the scaffolding of his words and he faultlessly applies this discipline to what he wants to say. So the rhythm and rhymes are impeccably free from strain. No singer would ever have anxieties about how to fit the words into the line. Such is not always the case with modern hymnody.
The first part of the book contains the hymns organised by subject. As well as the normal headings – seasonal, praise, Christian experience, person and work of Christ – there is an excellent section with a hymn for each of the minor prophets and some metrical psalms and other Scriptures. There are also some unusual topics, including a charming piece on Pilgrim’s Progress.
The second part of the book is no less fascinating than the first. For each hymn TDS has logged something about its provenance and process, both personal and biblical. These hymns are crafted and the each hymn as it unpacks its theme is a mini-sermon, expressed with a poet’s desire for economy and to make every word count. As such, this collection makes a wonderful aid to personal prayer and praise, shot through as it is with solid Bible truth, love for Christ and the believer’s sure hope of heaven.
C o m m o n l y used hymn tunes are suggested for each hymn, but many cry out for contemporary settings, singable by congregations. So, an opportunity there for any budding tunesmiths. These hymns deserve to be sung in our churches. But they work pretty well as devotional poetry too.
