Mennonite Weekly Review

EPHRATA, Pa. — A Pennsylvania family has recorded a CD celebrating the 160-year history of the first English Mennonite hymnal, which some Old Order Mennonites still use.

Tunes on the CD are taken from the 1875 Philharmonia.

The recording commemorates the 1847 publication of Mennonite Hymns, the only Mennonite Church hymnal published in English until 1890.

Singing on the CD are members of the James K. Nolt family of Ephrata — James and his wife, Sarah, along with sons Japheth and Adrian and daughters Charity, Jewel, Kristin, Cari, Abigail and Alisa.

“Hymns provide an enjoyable opportunity for worshiping God and transmitting truth and faith,” James Nolt writes. He said the family hopes the recording will deepen listeners’ “awareness and appreciation of Christian hymnody.”

Tunes on the recording are taken from The Philharmonia, a Mennonite tune book compiled by Martin D. Wenger and published in 1875 by Mennonite Publishing Co. Mennonite Hymns did not include notes but suggested Philharmonia tunes to be used for each song.

The earliest editions of Mennonite Hymns suggested tunes from Genuine Church Music, later known as Harmonia Sacra, compiled in 1816 by Joseph Funk of Virginia.

According to information provided with the Nolts’ CD, Mennonite Hymns was published in Harrisonburg, Va., at the request of Virginia Mennonites who were shifting from German to English in their worship services. The Mennonite Church published 14 editions of the book between 1847 and 1893.

The hymnal’s full title was A Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, from the Most Approved Authors, Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship and Private Devotion of the Church of Christ. The shortened name, Mennonite Hymns, appeared on the spine of the second and subsequent editions.

After the turn of the 20th century, Mennonites in general stopped using the book in favor of the 1902 Church and Sunday School Hymnal. However, Weaverland Conference Mennonites, an Old Order group, revived its use when they switched from German to English in their worship services. Since 1932 Weaverland Conference has published 16 editions, most recently in 2006.

Perhaps surprisingly, “the book contains no hymn of Mennonite authorship,” Nolt writes. It “introduced Mennonites to hymn treasures of Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, John Newton and others. Many denominations have worshiped God with these words and tunes.”