Parker offers unique perspective on great British hymns
Chris Pepple |
John Parker, professor of English at Lipscomb University, joined with famed Irish photographer Paul Seawright to create Abide with Me: A Photographic Journey through Great British Hymns. This book brings unique insights to 24 of the great British hymns loved by Christians in Britain and America for three hundred years. The brilliant color photographs and in-depth articles give the readers a glimpse into the lives of the hymn writers and into the sites where they lived and penned some of their work.
The articles, the photographs and the music CD included with the book complement each other to bring to the reader new perspectives on the hymns. “While books about the stories of the hymns have been published in the past, none approaches in impact this coffee-table style book. Next to the Bible, these hymns are the words that convey our faith the most deeply. The hymns are deeply intellectual and have both a theological and emotional appeal. The hymns we have chosen to highlight in this book have survived for generations. People can tell you stories about hearing these hymns sung by their grandmothers or in the churches of their childhood. Now they sing these hymns with their children and grandchildren. This book helps to pass them on to future generations of worshippers,” said Parker.
The articles offer a glimpse into the lives of the hymn writers and detail the history and description of the area where the hymns were composed. The impressive color photographs capture the scenes that the hymn writers would have observed as they put into words their faith and their feelings. Parker and Seawright began working together on this book in 2006. Seawright, chair of the department of photography at the University of Ulster in Ireland and award-winning international photographer, traveled with Parker in England and Wales to visit the beautiful, and sometimes remote, sites between 2006 and 2008.
The book includes a CD of the hymns contained in the publication, produced by celebrated singer Ray Walker of the Jordanaires. Walker’s voice has been recorded for an estimated eight billion sales plus his a cappella congregational and solo singles, more than that of any other person in history. The Jordanaires were the back up group for Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Ricky Nelson and 2900 other artists. Several of the hymns are the inspiring recordings of Walker singing such great hymns as “Amazing Grace,” “Rock of Ages,” “Abide with Me” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” while others are by excellent American choral groups such as the Harding University Concert Choir. Matthew Hearn, professor of English at Lipscomb University, recorded for the CD a soulful interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon “Caedmon’s Hymn,” the oldest hymn in English.
“As you read John Parker and Paul Seawright’s book, Abide with Me, and listen to the enclosed CD, you will notice that the tones and sounds of the recordings vary in nature. Efforts were made to emulate, as close as possible, how you would have heard the songs sung had you been there when they were first written and performed in the local church building, cathedral, or auditorium. It is our hope that your enjoyment and imagination will be enhanced by this CD rendition while reading the inspiring articles by John Parker and pouring through these magnificent photos taken by Paul Seawright,” said Walker.The book, available in bookstores in May, is published by the New Leaf Publishing Group and can be ordered directly from their web site. It is also available on Amazon. A copy autographed by Dr. Parker can be ordered directly from him. He is also available for Power Point presentations on the hymns for churches and groups.