Psalm Singing in the CRC
Written by Ryan Poelman
The Psalms have a rich history in the CRCNA, having a prominent part in the denomination’s worship from its beginning to today. The roots of the place the Psalms have in worship date back to the Synod of Dort in 1619, before the CRCNA was established. While the approach and understanding of the denomination have changed in numerous ways over the years, the importance of Psalms in worship has been noted.
The Early Years
In 1857 the CRCNA as it is now known began, seceding from the RCA. There were numerous issues that led to this secession, but one of those issues was music. The RCA included hymns whereas the seceders insisted on psalm singing only. At this point, the newly formed group that is now known as the CRCNA used the Church Order of Dort, with Article 69 shaping the prominent role that Psalms had.[1]
However, early on there was a recognition of hymns that the church used in worship. There were the 52 hymns that were used in in the True Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (later Classis Hackensack) corresponding to the 52 days of the Heidelberg Catechism. In 1890, Synod accepted a recent report of the union with the TRPDC understanding that they will continue to use these 52 hymns, while also maintaining that the ‘Holland and German speaking churches will not use these.’[2] There was a recognition of the desire to use hymns to connect to the catechetical teaching of the churches.
This did lead to the desire to have an approved collection of hymns for the church to use. Hymns were being sung outside of church, and so there was a desire to have hymns for in worship as well. Classis Grand Rapids East overtured Synod in 1928 to amend Church Order Article 69 to include such a collection. While this particular overture did not pass, Synod from principle didn’t object to the inclusion of hymns. Rather, it is from a historical and practical nature the objection rose.[3] Pressure was mounting for the inclusion of hymns in worship, so a Committee was appointed study this matter and see if a number of hymns suitable for the edification of believers in worship could be gathered, and if so to submit this collection to Synod 1930.
This led to a significant development in the CRCNA regarding psalms and music in worship, the development of principles. Synod 1930 received as information from the committee that “it must be viewed by us as a principle founded upon God’s Word, shall be acknowledged and maintained, that Psalm singing must always constitute an element in our public worship. Not that it would follow from this that our singing must be exclusively Psalm singing, but it does follow that a service without Psalm singing would in that respect be in conflict with the purpose of God as revealed in His Word.”[4]
Synod 1930 also made the important note that the Dort Church Order Article 69 does prescribe the Psalms but doesn’t exclude hymns. The article specifically includes 9 of them. From this, there was a recommendation for Synod to amend CO Art. 69 that a synodically approved collection of hymns may be included, so that the singing of the 150 Psalms will remain a requirement for public worship, and churches shall also have the freedom to sing a greater number of synodically approved hymns.
Synod 1932 made two important steps. First, there was the change to Art. 69 to read: In the churches only the 150 Psalms of David and the Collection of Hymns for church use, approved and adopted by Synod, shall be sung. However, the singing of the Psalms in divine worship is a requirement, the use of approved Hymns is left to the freedom of the churches. The years long discussion to include the singing of hymns in public worship led to such a collection to be included. However, Synod also sought to maintain the place of the Psalms, passing the recommendation that ‘Synod, in order still further to safeguard the singing of the Psalms in public worship, urge all our Consistories to see to it that the memorization of the Psalter verses is emphasized in the Catechism and Sunday School classes.’[5]
At this time, significant developments have been made. At the beginning of the denomination’s history, Psalms were the exclusive songs for public worship. However, due to including the TRPDC and other outside influences, there was a growing desire to use hymns for the instruction and edification of the church. This led to an inclusion of hymns for public worship, but only those that were synodically approved, and emphasizing the prominent place and biblical requirement of Psalm singing. Through the early years of the CRCNA, there was a double desire to include hymns and maintain the Psalm singing tradition.
The Principles of Church Music
A turning point in the denomination was in 1953, when Synod adopted the following principles:
1. The music of the church should be liturgical – In spirit, form, and content it must be a positive expression of Scripturally religious thought and feeling. It should serve the ministry of the Word.
2. The music of the church should be beautiful – Its religious thought or spirit should be appropriately embodied in the music as music, the poetry as poetry, and the blending of these in song. It should satisfy the aesthetic laws of balance, unity, variety, harmony, design, rhythm, restraint, and fitness which are the conditions of all art.[6]
These principles led to a supplement to the currently used Psalter Hymnal in the denomination in 1972. This supplement included six distinct hymn styles: Traditional, Early Reformation to 17th century, Contemporary, Folk-Spiritual, Rounds and Short Responses, and Gospel-Old Favorite.[7] The turn toward principles as guiding the music highlight two significant changes in the CRCNA. Coming out of WWII, there was greater exposure and inclusion of other traditions. This impacted the denomination in questing outside of its known tradition to include other styles of music as well as increase the number of hymns. The principles reflect this questing as they underwent changes in 1978 and 1979.
The second significant change highlighted toward principles was a change of accountability. Rather than churches being able to use a collection of hymns that were synodically approved, there was a motion in 1972 that ‘the consistory shall also approve all songs used in worship. These shall ordinarily be those approved by synod.’ This recommendation failed, but it points forward to the current structure of Church Order Article 52, where the council shall see to it that the principles approved by synod are observed.
In 1979 the principles of worship were reaffirmed in one section rather than in two separate points. These principles allowed for a wider use of music in worship, while the Psalms bear no specific mention in the statement. Rather than having songs approved by synod for local congregations to use in worship, a guiding principle was set forth that churches would then be able to turn to in discerning the music to use in public worship.
New Hymnals
Along with the new direction of synodically approved principles, there has been an ongoing process of evaluating the approved Psalter Hymnals and the music the church uses. While the Psalter Hymnal in use did go through some edits and supplements, it was in 1987 when the final approval of a new Psalter Hymnal was given, known commonly as ‘the grey hymnal.’[8] The Psalms still play an important role in the grey hymnal, containing ‘all 150 psalms, returning to the long-standing Reformed tradition of presenting one complete versification of each psalm set to a single melody; the psalms follow the numerical order in which they appear in the Bible.’[9]
Yet this isn’t the only new hymnal brought to the churches. In 2001 a contemporary hymnal, with songs written in the last 50 years, titled Sing! A New Creation was finished, and in 2003 the question was raised if a new Psalter Hymnal was needed. One of the reasons cited for this is ‘many of the Psalms in the current hymnal are not being sung.’[10]
This led to a collaborative effort with the RCA on the new hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts being approved and finished in 2013. Regarding the Psalms in this hymnal, there was some concern in the churches. In previous hymnals all 150 Psalms have been numbered as they appear in the Bible, taking the first 150 places in the hymnal. However, it was noted that they would be placed by subject matter instead.[11] The concern was that this was no longer having the Psalms in a position of prominence.
Synod 2013 also recognized a new resource from Faith Alive, Psalms for all Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship. This new Psalter ‘contains musical settings for each Psalm as well as Canticles from the Bible and Services of Prayer.’[12] There is a website dedicated to the Psalter, with additional resources such as a pairing of Psalms with each Lord’s Day of the Heidelberg Catechism.
Conclusion
The Psalms have a rich history in the public worship of the CRCNA. In the beginning of the denomination, they were the sole songs sung, with hymns being added amidst a desire to instruct and engage the church in music. With the shift from synodically approved songs to synodically approved principles, a door was opened to widen the options of music available to the church. While the prominence of Psalms has shifted over the years, they continue to serve a role in the public worship of the church.
Ryan Poelman graduated from Calvin Seminary in 2023 with his MDiv and pastors Faith Community CRC in Zillah, Washington.
Footnotes
[1] https://reformedstandards.com/three-forms-of-unity/church-order-dort.html
[2] Acts of Synod 1890, Article 49.
[3] Acts of Synod 1928, Article 57.
[4] Acts of Synod 1930, Article 90.
[5] Acts of Synod 1932, Article 144
[6] Acts of Synod 1953, Article 57
[7] Acts of Synod 1972, Article 40
[8] Acts of Synod 1987, Article 60
[9] Psalter Hymnal 1987, 8
[10] Agenda for Synod 2003, 148
[11] https://www.thebanner.org/news/2011/01/new-hymnal-planned
[12] https://www.psalmsforallseasons.org/