Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song [Paperback]

Brian Wren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

In this in depth look at hymns, Brian Wren explores the theological significance of congregational song, asks how music has meaning for its singers, and considers the importance of contemporary worship music. He argues that a hymn is a complex art form, deserving of recognition and study for its contributions to worship, education, and pastoral care.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Wren is Professor Emeritus of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is a well-known hymn writer and the author of Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregation Song,published by WJK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664256708
• ISBN-13: 978-0664256708
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Wren is English by birth, American by choice, Reformed by Tradition, Presbyterian by membership, United Methodist by marriage and Emeritus Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. He is a writer, preacher, worship leader and designer, and internationally published hymn-poet, with entries in most recent denominational hymnals in North America, Britain and Australia. Some of his hymn poems have been translated into Finnish, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean.
Brian holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Oxford University. He is a Minister of the United Reformed Church (UK). His publications include Education for Justice (1979), What Language Shall I Borrow? - God-Talk in Worship: A Male Response to Feminist Theology (1989- reissued 2009), Piece Together Praise - A Theological Journey: Poems and Collected Hymns Thematically Arranged (1996), Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song (2000), Advent, Christmas and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship (2008), Hymns for Today (2009) and seven hymn collections totaling 250 hymns, the most recent being Love's Open Door (2009). He is a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada. His hymn publishers are Hope Publishing Company (USA) and Stainer & Bell (UK):
http://www.hopepublishing.com/
http://www.stainer.co.uk/
Brian is partner-in-marriage and ministry to Rev. Susan Heafield ("Hayfield"), who comes from Eastern Montana. Susan holds a degree in Music Education from Rocky Mountain College, a Master of Divinity Degree from Drew University, NJ, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. She is a member of the New England conference of the United Methodist Church, has served churches in Pennsylvania, Maine, and North Georgia, and is now Pastor of Paupack United Methodist Church, Paupack , PA.
Together, Brian and Susan have published two collections of worship songs in book and CD form (We Can Be Messengers and Tell the Good News!) spanning the Christian year.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Renewing Singing in the Church, October 22, 2003

By 

Clifton F. Guthrie (Bangor, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song (Paperback)

Wren is one of the most accomplished living hymn-writers in the English language. Who better then to remind us of the importance of strong singing for Christian worship? I have cherished this book myself since it appeared, but this year I have also made it required reading for the seminarians I teach in my Introduction to Worship course. It is an ideal source for anyone who wishes an engaging treatment of the history of singing in worship and a fair-minded discussions of the issues such as the use of contemporary music and inclusive language.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful in proposing a particular view, June 23, 2005

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song (Paperback)

Brian Wren is an exponent of a particular approach to congregational hymns is firmly rooted in his Reformed background and related understanding of the function of religious services. This underlies his concern regarding inclusive language, multicultural usage, social justice issues etc. From this viewpoint he intelligently discusses the role of hymns in worship, appropriate language including revision of old hymns, selection and performance of hymns ... While my understanding of worship, historical continuity etc. differs from Wren's, this volume is an interesting and articulate expression of a particular point of view - a view important for the understanding of contemporary mainline Protestant hymnody.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song, February 20, 2010

By 

Barbara Elizabeth Hamm (Benicia, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song (Paperback)

Brian Wren accomplishes something that is difficult to do in one volume: both a broad survey of the history of congregational song and an in-depth discussion of the issues involved. Wren is thoroughly knowledgeable of both. One may agree or disagree with his conclusions at many points, but both his conclusions and the reasons for them are made quite clear. This book is the first that got me to thinking about praise music as something that I am really going to have to come to terms with as a church musician. He says the music is engaging and that what we need are church musicians to write lyrics that go beyond the inadequate ones of many of the current popular praise choruses. The book will both enlighten and stimulate one's thinking.