Two Important Southern Hymn Books: Mercer’s and Lloyd’s

The Cluster and Primitive Hymns are important and enduring Southern words-only hymn books. The Cluster remained in print over 30 years after the death of its compiler, and continues to hold the imagination of historians and hymnologists. Two editions of Primitive Hymns remain in use in churches 175 years after it was first published.

The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns, and Sacred Poems was first published by Jesse Mercer (1769-1841) around 1800 – though the oldest existing copy was published in 1810.[1] The compiler, was the son of noted Separate Baptist minister Silas Mercer and Dorcas Green.[2] Jesse Mercer was born December 16, 1769 in Halifax County, North Carolina. The Mercer family moved to Georgia in 1774, where Silas would later found several pioneer churches after his conversion to Baptist principles. In 1786 Jesse married Sabrina Chivers. He was converted and baptized in 1787, was ordained to the ministry in 1789 – all at the Phillips Mill Church organized by his father. After Sabrina’s death in 1826, he married the widow Nancy Mills Simmons in 1827. Mercer died September 06, 1841 and is buried at the Penfield Cemetery in Greene County, Georgia.

Jesse Mercer made his mark in the Baptist ministry, but also made enduring contributions to the welfare of his state as a delegate to the 1798 Georgia state constitutional convention. He became a leader in the Georgia Baptist Association, the state’s first Baptist association. He helped organize the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1822 and served as its president from that time until his death in 1841. Mercer purchased The Christian Index, a Washington, D.C.-based newspaper, in 1833 – which survives today as “the nation’s oldest continuously published religious newspaper.” He made gifts to the first two missionaries sent by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society to Texas – James Huckins and William M. Tryon. Mercer may be best remembered as the namesake of the Georgia Baptist Mercer University.

The Cluster probably is the earliest Georgia Baptist hymn book. Stephen A. Marini called it “the most important hymn collection in the lower South from 1800 to 1835. Through its longevity—it passed through eleven editions—and its combination of classic English Evangelical hymns with rough-hewn American spiritual ballads and revival songs, Mercer’s Cluster became a classic of southern hymnody…”[3] The 1835 edition of Mercer’s Cluster was reprinted at late as 1875 in Philadelphia by Charles Desilver, suggesting there was at least a small demand for the hymn book over 30 years after Mercer’s death.[4] This classic of Southern hymnody may have served as the prototype for the hymn book compiled by Benjamin Lloyd.

The Primitive Hymns, Spiritual Songs, and Sacred Poems was first published by Benjamin Lloyd in 1841, the year Jesse Mercer died.[5] Primitive Baptist hymnologist R. Paul Drummond calls Lloyd’s hymn book “...one of the most enduring hymnbooks ever used by the Old Baptists”[6] and John Crowley writes, “It remains the most widely used hymnal among Primitive Baptists of South Georgia and Florida, and the esteem in which it is held is difficult to exaggerate.”[7] At least one reason for Lloyd compiling a hymn book was the division of Baptists over the question of missionary societies and such like. Since Jesse Mercer took the “missionary” of the question, it would be inevitable for those on the “anti-missionary” side to distance themselves from Mercer’s hymn book.  Crowley asserted that “Jesse Mercer’s hymnbook, the Cluster, became unacceptable to the Primitives as later editions added more and more hymns of a Missionary complexion.”[8] It must be recognized, though, that the “Primitives” did use Mercer’s book,[9] and that all of the “missionary” terminology was not immediately or necessarily unacceptable to all Primitive Baptists. For example, Primitive Baptist elder Edmund Dumas wrote a tune called Ceylon’s Isle, in which he used stanzas from two missionary hymns – “What though the spicy breezes, Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s Isle” by Reginald Heber and “The morning light is breaking” by Samuel F. Smith.[10]

John Lloyd, Benjamin’s grandfather, settled in Hancock County, Georgia in 1784, about 3 miles west of Powelton, where Silas Mercer pastored from 1786 to 1796. Lloyd’s father-in-law-to-be Cary Cox “and his wife were received into Powell’s Creek Baptist Church in Warren Co., on 2-7-1795.”[11] Benjamin Lloyd was born October 6, 1804 in Hancock County, Georgia to John Emery Lloyd and Elizabeth Ann Gilbert. The family moved to Jones County when he was small and later to Bibb County.[12] He was converted and baptized into the membership of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church of Bibb County, Georgia. In 1832 he married Naomi Ann Cox, and was also ordained to the ministry in that same year. Lloyd died January 11, 1860 and is buried at the Lloyd Cemetery in Greenville, Butler County, Alabama.

Benjamin Lloyd began his ministry in 1832 in the Columbus Baptist Association in Georgia, while living in Talbot County. At the time Lloyd was ordained the Columbus Association had recently repudiated the missionary enterprises of the day. Though they would later reverse course and join the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1838, Lloyd had already left for Alabama. In 1834-35 he moved to Chambers County, Alabama. He helped organize the County Line Baptist Church there in 1835 and the Liberty Association in 1836. Liberty was organized on a compromise plan of the association not endorsing “missionary institutions” while leaving the churches to exercise their own discretion. When the association repealed this compromise plan and endorsed missionary institutions, Lloyd and others withdrew and formed the Beulah Baptist Association in 1838.[13]

Benjamin Lloyd moved to Coosa County and then Butler County, but it was while Chambers County that he produced his most lasting contribution to posterity – The Primitive Hymns, Spiritual Songs, and Sacred Poems: Regularly Selected, Classified and Set in Order, and Adapted to Social Singing and All Occasions of Divine Worship.[14] Lloyd’s hymn book would go through eleven editions in his lifetime and survive among churches into the twenty-first century.

Like Jesse Mercer, Benjamin Lloyd began his life in a different state than he ended it. They both grew up among Georgia Baptists with a stout Separate Baptist heritage, founded on “the sublime doctrines [of] the fall of Adam and the imputation of his sins to his posterity, the everlasting love of God in Christ to his people before the world began, particular redemption, affectual [sic] calling, Justification by the righteousness of Christ imputed, Sanctification by the holy Spirit, and the final perseverance of the Saints in grace, as preparatory to eternal glory.”[15] Like Mercer he was a man of standing in both the church and community. They both amassed a considerable amount of property and served in the governmental realm.[16] Unlike Mercer, Lloyd chose the “church side” of the missionary controversy rather than the “board side” – thereby finding a conservative base which preferred to continue in the old-time way of singing supported by both Mercer’s and Lloyd’s hymn books.[17] And, unlike Jesse Mercer – Benjamin Lloyd made preparations in his will for the perpetuation of his hymn book, writing, “It is my will and desire that my executors shall continue to publish my collection of Hymns…” Lloyd’s family faithfully fulfilled the will of their progenitor until the Primitive Hymns Corporation was formed and incorporated in 1971.

(To be continued)

Footnotes

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[1] “Mercer…published the first edition of The Cluster around 1800 as a collection of roughly 150 hymns and added a small supplement to the 1804 edition. No copies of these first two editions have survived.” (Marini, Notes, 884) The third edition was printed and sold by Hobby & Bunce of Augusta Georgia. It grew from 183 hymns in 1810 to 677 in 1823 to around 700 in 1835. “Mercer eventually published seven editions of this hymnal, and 33,000 copies were distributed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, alone by 1829.” (New Georgia Online Encyclopedia)

[2] Silas Mercer (1745-1796) joined Kiokee, Georgia’s oldest continuing Baptist church, by baptism in 1775. It was founded in 1772 by Daniel Marshall (1706-1784).

[3] Baptist Offspring, Southern Midwife--: Jesse Mercer's Cluster of Spiritual Songs (1810): A Study in American Hymnody, a book review by Stephen A. Marini in Notes 59(4):884-886, January 2003

[4] http://www.worldcat.org/title/cluster-of-spiritual-songs-divine-hymns-and-sacred-poems-being-chiefly-a-collection/oclc/16809941

[5] In 1841 the book contained 535 hymns and was published in 1600 copies. There are no extent copies of the 1841 edition. This information comes from a letter to The Primitive Baptist periodical, April 23, 1842.

[6] A Portion for the Singers, Drummond, p. 73

[7] Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South: 1815 to the Present John G. Crowley, 1998, p. 85; this would be true in other places as well.

[8] Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South, Crowley, p. 84

[9] Beard’s Creek Church “bought a single copy...from which to ‘line out’ hymns.” “At Upper Black Creek Church, a ‘singing clerk’ had custody of the book and lined out the hymns.” Crowley, p. 44; See also , Benjamin Lloyd’s Hymn Book: a Primitive Baptist Tradition, Joyce Cauthen, 1999, p. 61

[10] These texts are not found in either Mercer or Lloyd’s hymn books. The chorus – “Go ministers of Jesus, O go to Ceylon's Isle, Go preach a loving Saviour, O tell them Jesus died, That sinners might be saved” – appears to be an addition by Dumas. Tune can be found in The Sacred Harp, Fifth Edition, J. L. White, Atlanta, GA: 1909, Number 169, second section. Elder Edmund Dumas (1810-1882), of Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia was a Primitive Baptist preacher for over 40 years. The tune was probably written between 1870 and 1882.

[11] To my parents Jesse Berryman Robinson II and Helen Evelyn Cox, Helen R. Graves, [S.l. : s.n.], 1900, p. 150

[12] Elder Benjamin Lloyd: a Pioneer Baptist in Alabama, Zion’s Landmark, Weaver, p. 135

[13] Zion’s Landmark, Weaver, pp. 135-137

[14] And here is found the only hymn author named in Lloyd’s book, “Rev. F. Swint.”

[15] Covenant of the White Plains Baptist Church, Greene County, Georgia, September 13, 1806

[16] For example, “...he was appointed by President James Buchanan as Receiver of Public Monies for the Land Office located at Greenville, Alabama.” Zion’s Landmark, Weaver, p. 138

[17] Mercer wrote in answer to a friend, “I know of no instrumental worship approved in the New Testament in the church of Christ, and am of opinion it is too doubtful to be patronized.” – Memoirs of Elder Jesse Mercer, Mallary, p. 451

Two Important Southern Hymn Books; Comparing Mercer and Lloyd

A Singer and His Songs: E. W. Billups and The Sweet Songster

The Sweet Songster, a Collection of the Most Popular and Approved Songs, Hymns, and Ballads, Edward W. Billups, Catlettsburg, KY: C. L. McConnell, 1854.

Arrowood Brothers Edition

David E. Whisnant said that E. W. Billups’s Sweet Songster “appears from the [Katherine Rebecca Pettit] diaries[1] to have been in widespread use in the area [eastern Kentucky, possibly circa 1900]” and that “...Josephine McGill reported that during her collecting trip to Knott County [Kentucky] in 1914 she found The Sweet Songster and the Thomas hymnal ‘owned by nearly every mountain family’.”[2]

Despite the recent spate of interest in the Old Regular Baptists and their lined-out hymnody, there is a dearth of information on Edward W. Billups and The Sweet Songster – one of their most popular hymn books.

The editor
Edward W. Billups was born about 1799 or 1800 in Virginia – in the 1850 U.S. Census in Putnam County, Virginia he is listed as 51 years old and his occupation is Baptist preacher. He was the son of Edward and Susan Webster Billups,[3] probably born in the part of Virginia that later became West Virginia. He married Elizabeth Beck or Beach in Kanawha County on January 16, 1822, and they were living in that county in the 1830 and 1840 censuses. In 1850 they are on the Putnam County census, but it is probable that he did not move. Putnam County was established in 1848 from Cabell County, Kanawha County and Mason County. The Billupses lived in a part of Kanawha that became Putnam County. By this time his wife Elizabeth had apparently died, as she is not listed. He had four children in this census (George W., Mary A., John and Mathew) – all born roughly between 1831 and 1839.

In the 1860 U.S. Census Edward W. Billups was living next door to his son, G. W. Billups at Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio. G. W. was a silversmith. Edward was 60 years old and his occupation is “book peddler” – which is consistent with his publishing and selling the hymn book. In 1860 a Margaret Billups, 27 years old, was in the household with him. This may be his daughter, who is called Mary in 1850, or it could be possible that he remarried. Edward W. Billups has not been located after the 1860 census. He could have died between that time and the compiling of the 1870 census.

Elder John Sparks hinted Methodist origins behind the Songster, writing that E. D. Thomas’s hymn book “was compiled expressly for use in Baptist churches, but The Sweet Songster appears to have been originally a Methodist hymnal borrowed and adopted by some Appalachian United Baptists...”[4] The census records show that Billups was a Baptist, but his more generic book title and possibly more eclectic choice of hymns may suggest that he hoped for a wider audience than just Baptists. I haven’t been able to determine the kind of Baptists with which Billups was affiliated. Considering the hymn book is primarily used by Old Regular Baptists,[5] he was probably a Regular Baptist – at a time before the Regular Primitives and Old Regulars split.

The edition
The Sweet Songster is a small words-only hymn book, about 5" by 3-1/2" with 350 pages.[6] The title is creative or uncommon, compared to many hymn books of the period. According to Dictionary.com, a “songster” is “a person who sings; a writer of songs or poems; a poet; a songbird.” There might be some allusion to King David, who is called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” in 2nd Samuel 23:1. In poetry of this period, the “sweet songster” often referred to the nightingale bird.

The hymn book was printed for Billups at Catlettsburg, Kentucky by C. L. McConnell in 1854. According to a family genealogist, Edward’s father “died and his Will was read in 1853. Evidently Edward W. sold his large land inheritance to have the money to publish ‘The Sweet Songster’ in 1854.”[7] Edward may have moved to Ironton, Ohio by 1854, considering that Ironton is only about 10 miles up the Ohio River from Catlettsburg, Kentucky.[8]

The work contains hymns by noted hymnists such as Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley and John Newton. The largest number of credited hymns belong to Billups himself, though he is often an arranger rather than the original author. In his preface he wrote, “Those hymns marked with the author’s name, Billups, were composed entirely or in part by him.” The next to last hymn in the book, beginning “Once upon the heaving ocean,” is credited to his son, G. W. Billups.[9] Older hymn books credited as sources include Dover Selection (1828), Dupuy (1811), Sacred Melodies (1836), The Psalmist (1844) and Rippon (1787) – all Baptist sources.

Though Billups may have died within 8 to 16 years of the publication of his hymn book, it has retained popularity among the Old Regular Baptists and has remained in print to the present.[10] As far as I know, there is only one edition and no changes have been introduced. The Union Old Regular Baptist Church web site relates, “We sing out of words only song books.  The two most prominent are the Thomas Hymnal and the Sweet Songster. Our style of singing is called lined out hymnody.” According to The Baptist Library “The Sweet Songster is used by the Old Regular Baptist, United Baptist and some Primitive Baptist.”

Not everyone liked The Sweet Songster. The American Missionary (Volume 41 No. 4, April 1887, p. 109) labeled it religious doggerel, writing “The Sweet Songster is the name of a little hymn book published in Catlettsburg, Ky. It contains verses composed, compiled altered or amended, according to the sweet pleasure of one Edward W. Billups, D.D. There are some old familiar hymns scattered through the book, but often sadly marred by omission, alteration or addition. The poet shows his estimate of education as he describes the Christians of old: [hereafter follows the 4 lines of the third stanza of Charles Wesley’s “Primitive Christianity”.] [11]

Unabated by the conceit and condescension displayed by those like “The American Missionary,” numerous churches are pleased as they journey to sweetly sing their Savior’s worthy praise from the pages of a worthy hymn book appropriately named The Sweet Songster.

Footnotes
[1] Katherine Rebecca Pettit (1868–1936) was an American educator who was part of the “settlement school” movement in Appalachia in the early 20th century.
[2] All That Is Native and Fine: The Politics of Culture in an American Region, David E. Whisnant, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1983, p. 281
[3] http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/BILLUPS/2008-08/1218205592
[4] The Roots of Appalachian Christianity: The Life and Legacy of Elder Shubal Stearns, Elder John Sparks, Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2015 p. 235
[5] “The Thomas Hymnal and The Sweet Songster are both favored by the Old Regulars...” Sparks, p. 259
[6] The copy I have contains 350 pages with 285 numbered hymns, followed by 5 “choruses,” then 6 more hymns that are not numbered, then “A Form of Matrimony” (a short marriage ceremony), and a first lines index. No topical theme is noted or followed. Billups excluded hymns in particular metre – those “having no regularity” – from his compilation.
[7] E-mail from Rachel Harbour, spouse of a great-great-grandson of Edward W. Billups
[8] According to where Billups lived in Putnam County, Virginia, he might have been some 40 to 60 miles away from Catlettsburg – though that would not exclude him from using a publisher there, which might still have been the closest.
[9] This is a rearrangement of the rhyme pattern of a hymn by Mary Dana Shindler.
[10] For example, it was reprinted by Arrowood Brothers of Wayne, West Virginia in 1970, and the copy I obtained circa 2003 was reprinted by Fast Print of Greenup, Kentucky.
[11] See Hymn 70, Hymns for Children, and Others of Riper Years. I find it humorous that in their ignorance The American Missionary cited first an example of one of the two foremost writers of English hymnody, Charles Wesley, “the Sweet Bard of Methodism”. Of course, the thrust of this was to highlight the perceived ignorance of the people in their appeal for more workers and more money.

An earlier "first" Baptist hymn book?

Last week I wrote about Benjamin Keach's Spiritual Melody, published in 1691, as being considered the oldest or first-known Baptist hymn book. Now this. I'm not ready to dethrone Keach just yet, but I have discovered a slightly older book, compiled (and evidently the poetry written) by a man who is identified as a General Baptist.

The  book is Spiritual Hymns Upon Solomon's Song. The University of Michigan library owns a copy dated 1684 -- seven years before Keach's Spiritual Melody was published. The full title is Spiritual Hymns upon Solomons Song: or, Love in the right channel, Wherein that divine part of scripture is paraphras'd, and the dark places expounded; and may be vocally sung in the ordinary tunes of the singing Psalms (London: printed by John Hancock Senior, 1684). Google Books has the 1693 (apparently second) edition online.

The man is John Reeve. The Dictionary of National Biography, Volume XLVII (Sidney Lee, editor, London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1896, p. 409) identifies the author as a General Baptist minister. The dictionary records "Another John Reeve, author of 'Spiritual Hymns Upon Solomon's Song,' 1693, 12mo, was a general baptist minister at Bessel's Green, Kent." I found precious other little biographical information on him. A John Reeve at Bessel Green is mentioned in Baptist Churches till 1660. Several libraries incorrectly identify him with "the other" John Reeve in The Dictionary of National Biography, Volume XLVII. The author is not John Reeve (1608–1658), second son of Walter Reeve, who died over 25 years before Spiritual Hymns Upon Solomon's Song was published.

This hymn book contains 150 hymns related to the 8 chapters of the Song of Solomon. It references on the title page three passages of Scripture -- Isaiah 5:1, Colossians 3:16 and Revelation 15:3. The lengthy title indicates the hymns were intended to be "vocally sung in the ordinary tunes of the singing Psalms." In addition 22 hymns suggest particular psalm tunes to be used in singing them. However little or much use this hymn book achieved, it was an attempt to promote hymn singing based on texts of Scripture other than the Psalms. Unless upon further inspection John Reeve proves not to be a Baptist, it looks like there is an earlier first Baptist hymn book than Spiritual Melody by Keach.

List of Baptist hymn books and hymnals 2001--2025

Baptist hymn books and hymnals 2001--2016

• A Hymnal for the 21st Century (aka The New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition), T. H. Boyd, Nashville, TN: Triad Publications, 2001
• Old School Hymnal, Twelfth Edition, Danielsville, GA: Old School Hymnal Co., Inc., 2001 (first published by Lee Hanks in 1920)
• Some of Our Favorite Songs: I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, selected by A. O. McKnight,, McDowell, KY: Little Rosa Church of Old Regular Baptist, 2001
• The New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition, Nashville, TN: R. H. Boyd Publishing Company, 2001
• The New Baptist Song Book: a Collection of Good Hymns, Songs and Ballads, Roland H. Conley, Salyersville, KY: Roland Conley, 2002
• Hymns of Grace (Second Edition): a choice collection of Hymns honoring and promoting the Reigning Grace of God,  Mildred Simms, Kathy McCoy, et al., editors, Roswell, GA: Primitive Baptist Foundation, Inc., 2003
• Chosen Songs and Hymns, Steve Shirley, et al., Fountain Run, KY: SL-SS Properties, LLC, 2004
• Grace Praise: Supplement, Grace Baptist Church, Christchurch, NZ: Grace Baptist Church, 2004
• Primitive Baptist Hymnal, Helen Beauchamp and Bryce Lowrance, Azle, TX: Harmony Hill Foundation, 2004
• Mvskoke Hymns of Faith,  Barton Looney, George Bunny, et al., editors, [n.l.] Homer Lee Emarthle, 2005
• 100 Hymns from Gadsby’s Selection, with Music, B. A. Ramsbottom, editor. Herts, UK: Gospel Standard Trust Publications, 2006
• Baptist Hymnal, Nashville, TN: LifeWay Worship, 2008 (also published under the title The Worship Hymnal)
• Bible Truth Hymns, Byron Foxx, Newport News, VA: Bible Truth Music, 2008
• A Sheaf of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, R. L. Vaughn, Mt. Enterprise, TX: Waymark Publications, 2009
• Harvest Hymns for South Cushing Baptist, Cushing ME: Cushing Historical Society, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2009
• Baptista Gyülekezeti Énekeskönyv (Baptist Church Songbook), Ujvárosi Lajos, editor. Martonvásár: Akadémiai Nyomda Kft., 3rd edition, 2010
• Celebrating Grace Hymnal, J. Thomas McAfee, et al., editors, Macon, GA: Celebrating Grace, Inc.-Mercer University Press, 2010
• Reformed Psalter Hymnal, Chris Beamer, Belleville, ONT: Essence Publishing, 2010
• Old Fashioned Song Book, Silvery Lane Baptist Church of Dearborn Heights, MI, North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace, 2011
• Rejoice Hymns, Ron and Shelly Hamilton, Greenville, SC: Majesty Music Inc., 2011
• Chosen Songs and Hymns, Steve Shirley, et al., Fountain Run, KY, circa 2012
• Mvskoke Nak-cokv Esyvhiketv, Paraphrase Translation (Second Edition), Steve Randall, editor, 2012 (used by Seminole Baptist churches)
• Old Baptist Hymns, Clifford B. Gowens, Old Baptist Hymns, Inc., Wylie, TX, 2012
• Favorite Songs of the Macedonia Old Regular Baptist Church, Eddie Turner, n. p. 4th edition, 2014
• Songs & Hymns from the Heart, Santa Clara, CA: North Valley Publications, 2014
• Old-Line Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, Jason Fruit, Fox Lake, WI: Jason R. Fruit, 2016
• Old Regular Baptist Song Book, John M. Elkins, Greenup, KY, 2016
• Old Family Song Book, Douglas Ward, Oil Springs, KY [n.d.]
• Old Time Singing, Elder Scott Hamilton [n.d.]
• Olmstead Baptist Church Hymnal, Stephen duBarry, editor, Olmstead, KY: Olmstead Baptist Church, 2017
• Hymns to the Living God, Scott Aniol,‎ Ryan J. Martin, editors, Fort Worth, TX: Religious Affections Ministries, 2017
• Songs of Zion, Bryce H. Lowrance, Tim McCool, Carrollton, AL: Songs of Zion, Inc., 2017
• Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Knoxville, TN: Melody Publications, 2018
• Rock Fork Regular Baptist Church Song Book, Daryl Slone, Willie Crase Jr., Rock Fork Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, Garrett, KY: Printed by Pippa Valley Printing, 2018
• Worship the King: an Old School Baptist Hymnal, Christopher Crouse, Philip Conley, Worship the King Hymnal Corporation, 2018
• Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Shape Note Edition, Knoxville, TN: Melody Publications, 2020
• The Good Old Songs, Second Volume, David Montgomery, et al., Dale, TX: Primitive Baptist Heritage Corporation, 2020
• A Primitive Baptist Psalter: the Psalms of David in Metric, Joseph R. Holder, editor. March to Zion Publications, 2021
• Bierton Particular Baptists Hymn Book: A Selection from the Gadsby Hymnal Published in 1814, David Clarke, editor, Fareham, UK: Bierton Baptists, 2022
• Bierton Particular Baptists Hymn Book, with Music, David Clarke, editor, Fareham, UK: Bierton Baptists, 2022
• Old School Psalter, Danielsville, GA: Old School Hymnal Foundation, 2025

List of Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1951--2000

Baptist hymn books and hymnals 1951--2000

• Sacred Songs and Anthems, E. O. Sellers, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1951
• American-Hungarian Hymnal/Angol-Magyar Énekeskönyv: Choice Selections of New and Old Songs for all Services and Occasions, Hungarian Baptist Union of America, Cleveland, OH: Hungarian Baptist Union of America, 1953
• Crusade Songs: a Compilation of Standard Hymns, Gospel Songs and Choruses, W. Hines Sims, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1954
• Baptist Hymnal, Walter Hines Sims, Nashville, TN: Convention Press, 1956 (New editions: 1975, 1991, 2008)
• North American Hymnal, Paul Wengel, editor, Forest Park, IL: Roger Williams Press, 1956
• All-American Church Hymnal, Earl Smith and John T. Benson, Nashville, TN: J. T. Benson Publishing Co., 1957
• New Baptist Song Book, A. B. Conley, 1957
• Free Will Baptist Hymnal: Hymns and Gospel Songs for Every Phase of Worship, R. N. Hinnant, J. O. Fort, J. C. Griffin, and I. J. Blackwelder, Ayden, NC: Free Will Baptist Press, 1958
• J. E. Kitchens presents Songs of Zion: both old and new songs for church and family worship and for singing schools, J. E. Kitchens, Birmingham, AL: by the author, n.d. circa 1959
• American Baptist Hymnal: Four hundred sixty-four Selections of Hymns, contemporary Songs and Responsive Readings, Spiritual, Practical and Resourceful for use in all Church Services, Youth Meetings and Revivals, Baptist Sunday School Committee, Texarkana, AR-TX: BSSC of the American Baptist Association, 1960
• A Few of My Favorite Songs: for the Benefit of Regular Baptist Church, McRoberts, KY: R. H. Welch, n.d. (possibly 1960s)
• Primitive Baptist Hymnal: a Choice Collection of Gospel Songs, both Old and New, Suitable for Religious Worship, Len Dalton and Helen Beauchamp, Midwest City, OK: Baptist Trumpet, 1961
• The Baptist Hymn Book, Hugh Martin, London: Psalms and Hymns Trust, 1962
• Free Will Baptist Hymn Book, National Association, Nashville, TN: National Association of Free Will Baptists, 1964
• National Primitive Baptist Church Hymn Book, National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A. Hymn Book Committee, Huntsville, AL: National Primitive Baptist Publishing Board, 1964
• The Pilgrim's Hymnal, Valdosta, GA: The Pilgrim's Hymnal Publishing Company, 1964 (update of W. H. Crouse’s 1908 hymnal)
• A New Hymnal: a Collection of New and Old Spiritual Songs, Monroe Breeding, W. H. Caudill Jr., 1965
• General Baptist Hymn Book, General Association of General Baptists, Poplar Bluff, Mo: General Baptist Education and Publications, 1965
• Hymns and Songs of the Spirit, Ellwood S. Wolf, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1966
• Hymns of Faith and Fellowship: a Special Services Hymn Book for evangelism, worship, inspiration and all youth activities, Donald F. Crowhurst, Shirley A. Holman and Brian H. Thitchener, Sydney: Australian Baptist Board of Evangelism, ca. 1966
• The Master's Call: Church Songs and Hymns, Woodrow P. Spiers, Denham Springs, LA: W. P. Spiers, 1966
• Worship and Service Hymnal: for Church, School and Home, Donald P. Hustad, Special Edition for the Baptist General Conference, Chicago, IL: Hope Publishing Company, 1966
• Faithway Church Songs and Hymns, No. 2, G. V. Hamilton, Varnado, LA: G. V. Hamilton, 1967
• Golden Harp Hymns: a Choice Collection of Gospel Songs, both old and new, suitable for all occasions, Lawrence Rice, Lovington, NM: New Mexico Baptist Monitor, n.d. (by or before 1967; probably first published in the 1950s)
• The Master's Call Favorite Songs, Woodrow P. Spiers, Denham Springs, LA: W. P. Spiers, 1967
• The Master's Call Select Songs, Woodrow P. Spiers, Denham Springs, LA: W. P. Spiers, 1967
• Hymns of Grace: a Choice Collection of Hymns Honoring and Promoting the Reigning Grace of God, Roswell, GA: Primitive Baptist Foundation, 1968
• Hymns for the Space Age, Edward E. Chipman, Lebanon, CT: Myers Press, 1969
• Hymnbook for Christian Worship, Charles H. Heaton, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1970
• New Hymns for the 70s, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970
• Living Hymns: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of Faith, Alfred B. Smith, 1972 (2nd edition, Lancaster, CA: Striving Together Publications)
• Old Regular Baptist Song Book, Ashland, KY: Baxter Osborne and Roy B. Akers, 1972
• Soul Stirring Songs & Hymns, John R. Rice and Joy Rice Martin, Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1972
• The FBC Selection of Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs, Frankston Baptist Church, Frankston (AUS): Frankston Baptist Church, 1972
• The Hymnal, Carol M. Giesbrecht, Brantford, ON: Baptist Federation of Canada, 1973
• Praise for Today, E. P. Sharpe, London: Psalms and Hymns Trust, 1974
• Grace Hymns, London: Grace Publications Trust, 1975
• Great Gospel Songs and Hymns for Free Will Baptists, Special edition, Bill Gaither, Nashville, TN: Randall House, 1976
• Progressive Baptist Hymnal, D. E. King, Washington, DC: Progressive National Baptist Convention, 1976 (special edition of the Broadman Hymnal)
• Some of Our Favorite Songs, George W. Mullins, Hobert Mullins, McRoberts, KY: McRoberts Regular Baptist Church, 1977
• The New National Baptist Hymnal, National Baptist Publishing Board, Nashville, TN: R. H. Boyd Publishing, 1977
• Hymns and Songs of Joy, Raymond Collins, Little Colly Regular Baptist Church, Tillie, KY: n.p., circa 1978
• Anchored in the Rock of Ages Song Book, Don Marsh, Liberty Baptist College, Paragon Associates, 1979
• Free Spirit: a Songbook that will inspire you to Sing with a New Spirit, Nashville, TN: National Baptist Publishing Board, 1979
• Heart-Felt Melodies, Charlie Henry Culbreth, Columbia, AL: C. H. Culbreth, 1979
• Great Hymns of the Faith, Special Edition for Bogard Press, Texarkana, TX: Bogard Press, Grand Rapids, MI: Singspiration, Inc., 1968 (n.d. Special Edition circa 1980)
• A Book of Hymns, J. F. and J. R. Lilly, Atwood, TN: Christian Baptist Publishing Co., 1981
• Missionary Songs, Dan Truax, Greenville, SC: Tabernacle Print Shop, 1981
• Gospel Favorites: a Collection of Gospel Songs Suitable for Every Occasion, Mike Brumfield, Las Cruces, NM-Franklinton, LA: Mike Brumfield, 1982
• Old Baptist Songs We Sing at Southern Home, Tommy Adair, Sparr, FL: Church of Jesus Christ of Old Regular Baptist called Southern Home, 1985
• The Berea Baptist Hymnal, Milburn Cockrell, editor, Mantachie, MS: Berea Baptist Church, 1986
• Old Regular Baptist Songs & Hymns, compiled by Paul Hudson, [n.p.] 1986
• Old Regular Baptist "Songs of Zion" 1987, Swords Creek, VA: n.p., 1987
• On the Road: sixteen songs for the Christian community to sing, Ross Langmead, Melbourne: Ross Langmead, 1987
• Some of our Favorite Songs, C. B. Smith, Dwale, KY: Arrow Printing Co., 1988
• Some of our Favorite Songs, Hollybush, KY: Hollybush Regular Baptist Church, 1987
• Songs of the Saved, Luther K. Pulliam, King, NC: Trustees of King Baptist Mission Church, 1987
• Songs of Grace, Don Fortner, Rochester, NY: Backus Book Publishers, 1988
• Baptist Hymnal 1991, Nashville, TN: Convention Press, 1991
• Baptist Praise and Worship, Music Edition, Psalms and Hymns Trust, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991
• Psalms & Hymns of Reformed Worship, Peter Masters, London: Wakeman Trust, 1991
• The Baptist Hymn Book, Dorothy Osborne, Ashland, KY: by the author, 1991 (possibly a reissue or revision of Old Regular Baptist Song Book by Baxter Osborne and Roy Akers)
• The Baptist Song Book, Bobby Scott, Jackhorn, KY: Johnson Printing, 1991
• The Christian Praise Hymnal, James T. Draper, editor, Genevox/Broadman, 1992
• Little Book of Favorite Hymns: designed as a supplement for the Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book by John R. Daily, Carthage, IL: Primitive Baptist Library, 1993
• Primitiva Iglesia Bautista Imnos (A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship for the Primitive Baptist Churches in the Philippines), L. Jeff Harris, editor. Roswell, GA: Maple Tree Book Company, 1995
• Rejoice: the Free Will Baptist Hymn Book, Nashville, TN: Music Commission of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. 1995
• Our Little Hymnal, Ellenwood, GA : Old School Hymnal Co., 1996
• Trinity Hymnal, Baptist Edition, Robert S. Marsden, Suwanee, GA: Great Commission Publications, 1996
• Majesty Hymns, Frank Garlock, Greenville, SC: Majesty Music Inc., 1997
• In Spirit and In Truth: a Worship Hymnal, ABA Hymnal Committee, Texarkana, AR-TX: Bogard Press, 1998
• Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs, Joe B. Nesom, Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 1998 (reprint 2004)
• Grace Praise, Dafydd Wynne Hughes, Christchurch, NZ: Grace & Truth Publications, 1999
• Songs & Hymns of Revival, Santa Clara, CA: North Valley Publications, 1999
• Missions Conference Song Book, compiled by R. A. MacDonald, Safford, AZ: New Testament Baptist Church, n.d., circa 2000
• Songs of Faith, H. Neal & Claudel B. McKenzie, Mars Hill, NC: Double Oak Press, 2000