The name of the hymnal of The United Methodist Church.
More than four years in preparation, the latest version of the hymnal was approved by the 1988 General Conference and was published in 1989.
Hymnals have been important in the life of the Wesleyan movement. John Wesley published his first hymnal in 1737 in South Carolina. The various predecessor denominations of The United Methodist Church all regularly published and revised hymnals for their worship use.
The 1960 General Conference of The Methodist Church authorized a revision of its hymnal, which was completed in 1966. At the time of the 1968 union, the hymnal of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and the 1966 hymnal of The Methodist Church were recognized as official hymnals of the new denomination.
The United Methodist Hymnal is the first official hymnal to be authorized by and prepared for The United Methodist Church.
Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
