Singing is a vital part of Baptist worship, and many songs our ancestors sang are still used in worship today. To assist churches in celebrating hymn singing, the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Historical Services is making available for loan an exhibit of hymns, hymnals and songbooks used in Baptist churches through the past 125 years.
The display contains a timeline of hymns and hymnals dating from the middle ages to the present. Some of the books in the display include the earliest Baptist Hymnal (1883). South Carolinians John A. Broadus and Basil Manly (source of the Broadman name) helped develop the Baptist Hymnal, and a facsimile of their signatures can be seen. The hymnal, like many others of its time, had only words and not musical notes.
Shaped-note songbooks are included. William “Singing Billy” Walker of Spartanburg published one of the best known of all shaped-note songbooks, Southern Harmony.
The best known of all Baptist hymnals is the Broadman Hymnal, first published in 1940. It continues to be one of the most-sold hymnals of all time and includes many classic and beloved hymns.
The hymns and hymnal display can be reserved for use by contacting SCBC Historical Services at (803) 765-0030.