Home

Welcome to the Open Hymnal Project, an effort to create a freely distributable, downloadable database of Christian hymns, spiritual songs, and prelude/postlude music. I am doing my best to create a final product that is "Hymnal-quality", and could feasibly be used as the basis for a printed church hymnal. This music is to be distributed as complete scores (words and music), using all accompaniment parts, in formats that are easily accessible on most computer OS's and which can be freely modified by anyone.

"Freely you received, so freely give." - Matthew 10:8 (WEB)

15 Oct 2025 Added a new hymn from a modern hymnwriter, Randall Medcalf. I Trust in the Blood of Calvary.

09 Oct 2025 After a long absence, I am restarting activity on the Open Hymnal Project. Numerous small changes have been made behind the scenes already. One which the user will see are the Trinitarian verse markers (Δ). In some church bodies there is a tradition to stand when the final verse of a hymn reflects all three persons of the Trinity. The markers are already to be found in individual pdfs, but it will be a little while before another fully compiled hymnal will be ready.

Additionally, I have added a new hymn, All People that on Earth Do Dwell. Numerous more hymns are in the works and will be added in the near future.

27 Jun 2019 Changed email.

15 Mar 2017 Changed the setting for When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, due to a concerned raised about its sourcing.

30 Nov 2015 Added three new hymns, He Keeps Me Singing, Jesus Is All the World To Me, and Rescue the Perishing.

27 Sep 2015 Added a new hymn, Moment By Moment.

13 Jan 2015 Added a new hymn by modern hymnwriter Rev'd Can. Bola Omodun. Ilori, Ascribe To the Lord Honor. It is based on Psalm 29.

09 Nov 2014 Added a new hymn, A Child of The King, contributed by Tobin Strong.

10 Aug 2014 Added a new hymn, Lord Of Our Life.

01 Aug 2014 Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted around the world for the faith. Especially, now, pray for those in Syria and Iraq who are under tremendous levels of persecution. Suggestions from the Open Hymnal for prayer services include:

Some good articles may be found here.

"The cross is widely recognized as the major symbol of Christian faith. In its original context, there was nothing noble about it: It served as a frightening reminder of the shameful execution reserved for the worst of criminals and enemies of the state. There is something profound about it being a special sign with which we as Christians have been marked at our Baptism. It does mark the shape of our Christian life. What is it? “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). All. No exceptions. Persecution for the faith is not something that should catch any baptized off guard: It is inherent in the very nature of Christian faith." -- Pr. Alexey Streltsov

07 Jul 2014 Added a new hymn, My Savior's Love, contributed by Tobin Strong. Thanks!

22 Jun 2014 Updated large pdf version of the hymnal.

08 Jun 2014 After a bit of an absence, added a new hymn, Of The Father's Love Begotten.

23 Mar 2014 Added a new hymn, Praise The Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him.

10 Mar 2014 Added two new hymns, Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (contributed by Tobin Strong) and None Other Lamb.

16 Feb 2014 Added a new hymn, Hark, Hark, My Soul! with a new lyrical arrangement by Mike Hosken. Thanks, Mike!

26 Jan 2014 Added a new hymn, My Soul, Now Praise Thy Maker.

12 Jan 2014 Added the last arrangement of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Tobin Strong. Also added two new hymns, I Sing the Mighty Power of God and The Love of God. All of these are contributions by Tobin Strong. Thanks!

05 Jan 2014 Added two new arrangements of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" contributed by Tobin Strong. One more arrangement is still to come. They can be found here: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Thanks, Tobin!

Very Old News