SING TO THE LORD
Celebrating 400 years of English hymn singing in America

"We loved your concert yesterday in Madison so much that we had to come to hear you again in Culpeper!” This is just one example of the comments shared by those who attended our recent community heritage concerts featuring 400 years of English hymns in America.

Because the first permanent English settlement began in 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia, Americans, especially Virginians, are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of English-speaking people. Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamestown in early May as one of the commemorative events. Records confirm that these settlers met daily for prayer and the reading of Scripture, and weekly for church. They began a chain of English hymn singing in America that has never been broken. Some hymns are still sung in most churches today!

Over the weekend of May 19 and 20, the Three Angels' Chorale and the Hartland Campus Choir shared this heritage with our community in two concerts, one in the town of Madison and the other in Culpeper. Through choral arrangements of great hymns, historical narrative, and visual media, we traced the religious heritage of America's English-speaking people. “Spectacular! Your choice and execution of hymns were outstanding!” said many.

We began our journey with the famous hymn tune “Old 100th,” known today as “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” We featured hymns from the Great Awakening of the 18th and 19th centuries, the spirituals of slaves, the music that stirred our national soul during the Civil War, as well as our expression of faith through music today.

“The music was so touching that I couldn’t stop crying!” one lady shared with me.

Heather James, a choral director from Alabama and the mother of two Hartland choir students, offered much-needed services as an accompanist. Under her direction members of her choir, Excelsia, joined a group of Hartland students and performed two beautiful Negro spirituals.

Pastor Garland Day, Seventh-day Adventist district pastor, narrated both programs. “The scope of history covered and the interesting anecdotes provided for an outstanding script,” he says. “Everyone I talked to responded positively, and many wished they had invited their friends.”

Both events were sponsored by community groups: In Madison, the chamber of commerce, the historical society, as well as the Hebron Lutheran Church; in Culpeper, the Museum of Culpeper History, the department of tourism, and the United Methodist Church. We couldn’t have done it without them.

This is the third in a series of Heritage Concerts that Hartland Institute has shared with our community. We have found them to be excellent ways to connect with our neighbors and to share the gospel through hymns.