The New English Hymnal is a hymn book and liturgical source aimed towards the Church of England. First published in 1986, it is a successor to, and published in the same style as, the 1906 English Hymnal. It is published today by SCM Canterbury Press, an imprint of Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd.
Origin
The New English Hymnal inherits much music from the original 1906 English Hymnal, its 1933 revision, and the 1975 supplement English Praise, although a few hymns are re-written or dropped in favor of newly added hymns. The words of several hymns have been altered slightly, although it nonetheless enjoys continuing favour in a considerable number of cathedrals and collegiate chapels worldwide and it is a significant publication in Anglican church music. Its extensive provision of hymns for saints' days and mid-week religious festivals has proved popular with those schools still maintaining hymn-singing in daily acts of worship.
The copyright is held by The English Hymnal Company Limited. The then chairman of the company, George Timms, was its general editor. The musical editor was Anthony Caesar with significant assistance from Arthur Hutchings, Christopher Dearnley, and Michael Fleming. It is published today by SCM Canterbury Press, an imprint of Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd.
Supplement and revision
A supplement, New English Praise, was published in 2006 containing additional liturgical material, canticle settings, psalm settings and plainchant accompaniments.
A completely new and revised hymnal was initially scheduled for publication in 2018, 60 years after the death of its first musical editor, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Due to the effects of Coronavirus pandemic, it was then due to be published in 2021. In April 2021 the publication date was moved to September of the same year. In January 2022 it was announced that publication had been postponed to 30 June 2022. The most recent announcement from October 2022 has stretched the publication of the full music edition into May of 2023.