Preface to 101 Songs and Hymns of the Celtic Spirit

How remarkable is the widespread, 21st-centruy rediscovery of ancient Celtic Christianity by church folk of many different traditions who see its ethos promising possibilities for renewal of the faith in our time! As parishes and congregations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, and other English language nations begin to find fresh vitality through community, hospitality, healing, a reverence for nature and the environment, meditiation, prayer, Scripture, sacrament, living tradition, and the pursuit of peace and justice, many turn with delight to centuries-old patterns followed by their fellow believers who, often with great difficulty but with strong faith and courage, walked the way of Christ on the fringes of then largely pagan, northern Europe.

As part of that quest for renewal, we present this collection of hymn and song texts and music that ranges from the early Church through the Middle Ages and Reformation, the 18th- and 19th-century high mark of British and American hymnody, on down to the present. Selections include classic Anglican hymns (Anglo-Catholic to Evangelical/Methodist), metrical psalms and paraphrases either tradtional or in the style of Scottish Presbyterians, and modern texts and music - both beloved, ancient Celtic tunes newly arranged by George or else very singable original compositions that he has created in the Celtic spirit. Some we have used in the parishes and congregations where we each have labored over the past several decades. Others we have crafted especially for this hymnal.

In ever case we have tried to be faithful to the language and mood of Celtic Christianity. Whether or not we have succeeded must be left for individuals and worshiping congregations to judge. We hope that the various indices will be helpful to clergy and leaders of music alike.

The confines of space prevent us from sharing some of the remarkable experiences that, during this project, assured us of God's continued guidance at critical points. We are thankful to the Holy Trinity for sustaining us through this whole process. And we are deeply grateful to the saints especially in George's St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Lewes, Delaware; and those in two of Dwyn's interim pastorates, Memorial Presbyterian, St Augustine, Florida, and Trinity Presbyterian, Fairhope, Alabama, who have actually sung many of these hymns and songs.

George Bayley and Dwyn Mounger
Epiphany 2008