Here are the full original texts of 150 of the best-loved hymns in the English language, from the time of the Early Church to the 20th century. Each is accompanied by a fascinating commentary, giving biographical details of the author, such as the Calvinist creator of Rock of Ages who once calculated that the average human sins 2,522,880,000 times; notes on the circumstances in which the hymn was written; and variant versions including the First World War infantry adaptation of The Church's One Foundation. 150 hymns each prefaced by an urbanely written and agreeably subjective commentary with a wealth of anecdote and a few ribald parodies. This charming book should also be required reading for all responsible for choosing hymns in church, and recommended bedside reading for the eight million viewers of Songs of Praise. Ian Bradley writes with wit elegance and charm and is quite exceptionally knowledgeable about his subject. Bradley has enjoyed singing hymns for as long as he can remember. He attributes the origin of this enthusiasm to the happy combination of having a father who loved Salvation Army choruses, and many years exposure to public school chapel worshiping. His other enthusiasms are spas, institutions of most kinds and all things Victorian.