The classic hymn

Christian Century, March 8, 2003

One of the reasons for the success of 17th-century hymn writer Charles Wesley was that he was "vividly aware that Christian worship is that which joins the Church triumphant in heaven to the Church militant on earth." The best of Charles Wesley's hymns, according to R. G. Jones, had carefully crafted poetry; they could be sung easily and lustily; they had sound theology with biblical and classical references and allusions; they had a "sense of passion reaching into ecstasy"; and they created a memorable singing experience (Expository Times, December).

It's a lofty ideal, but why shouldn't contemporary hymnody reach for the same standards?