The Anthem In Worship

Anthems sung by choirs and soloists have a long history in Christian worship. Many of the world's finest composers have written anthems for use in worship. Yet the best anthems are those which unite such musical genius with concern for the text that is sung and the function of the anthem in the context of the entire worship service. Choral music is used in worship by choirs of all sizes and in almost all denominations. Many churches have a long-standing tradition of thoughtfully prepared anthems contributing to the worship service, while others approach choral music as an afterthought. The goal of all worship leaders should be the former; with planning, this is a goal that can be achieved in churches with even limited resources. Before discussing the role of choral anthems in worship, it might be helpful to understand the long history of choirs contributing to worship. History of the Anthem in Worship Church musicians and publishers today use the term anthem in a general way to …