John Thornley at home in the studio by Image supplied

Making Hymns More Accessible

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John Thornley hosts a weekly half-hour radio programme from Wesley Broadway, Palmerston North, in partnership with local radio station Manawatu People’s Radio. This article looks at two recording projects he has recently produced: ‘Fifteen Singable Hymns’ and the ‘Six Hymns’ series.

John says he is at home on the radio. “It’s a private conversational sharing time with those at home or others confined in prison or hospital. It doesn’t have the gloss of a television screen where looks and dress are a poor substitute for the Word of the Spirit and the words of ordinary people.”

The seed that began this project was a local minister who expressed a wish to use more New Zealand hymns in worship but was overwhelmed by the choice available. “Where do I start when Alleluia Aotearoa (AA) has 162 hymns?” he said. John produced Fifteen Singable Hymns from Alleluia Aotearoa and continued through the four hymn collections published by the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust (NZHBT). John was NZHBT Manager from 2003 to 2015.

The current series of programmes started in August and continues until December. “This project is more ambitious than just listing titles,” John says. In conjunction with Roy Tankersley, Presbyterian music leader, John selects six songs from each book and introduces each hymn. Currently there are two programmes available in podcasts (the technical term for a radio programme) titled Six Hymns in Alleluia Aotearoa and Six Hymns in Faith Forever Singing (FFS).

Four of the hymns on each podcast are taken from the four CDs that complement the books and two are taken from Roy Tankersley’s database. These hymns do not appear on the Trust CDs but readers will recognise some well-known Kiwi hymns including ‘Let justice roll down’ and ‘Touch the earth lightly,’ found in AA, and ‘Nothing is lost on the breath of God’ and ‘Let my Spirit always Sing’ found in FFS.

The main aim of this project is to encourage greater use of New Zealand hymns in New Zealand church and community.

The Wesley Broadway radio is a partnership with local community radio Manawatu People’s Radio (MPR), a secular State operation. “There has developed trust between both partners, respecting the professionalism each brings to their task,” John says.

Further work on the remaining books, Hope is our Song and Carol our Christmas, will be completed by Christmas and then John will prepare resource material to support ways this project can be used in local churches and communities. “I look forward to having feedback on creative ways others are using the podcasts. Here’s hoping 2024 will be a very good year for the hymns of Aotearoa.”

Hymnbook Trust abbreviations are Alleluia Aotearoa: AA; Faith Forever Singing FFS; Hope is our Song HIOS; Carol our Christmas COC. Titles refer to both the books and CDs.

For podcasts, contact Hugh Dingwall at Manawatu People’s Radio: hugh@mpr.nz

For the Fifteen Singable Hymns series, or further information, email John Thornley: johngill@inspire.net.nz.