A Pilgrimage in Song: Unitarian and Universalist Hymnody: The A history of Universalist and Unitarian hymn writers, hymns, and hymn books. (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780990726920)

Rev. David Johnson (BA, BD, MA) has researched the stories of the development of Unitarian and Universalist hymnody for decades, and taught UU Hymnody in theological schools - primarily Andover Newton Theological School. Following in the footsteps of Henry Wilder Foote's lifelong labors to put liberal hymnody into the larger story of the development of American Hymnody, his labors to record it for Julian's masterful Dictionary of American Hymnology, and his own leadership in the creation of two landmark Unitarian hymnals, The New Hymn and Tune Book (1914) and Hymns of the Spirit (1938), Johnson has continued the story to the present, noting movements in and the faith pilgrimage of Unitarians and Universalists that shaped the hymnals of each new generation. He has, with Rev. Eugene Navias, and on his own, created several "Singing Our History" programs for national, regional and local meetings. He continues to work on hymn stories - for every hymn has a story behind it, why, through what experience and for what faith purpose it was written and the music composed. Rev. David Johnson is a semi-retired UU minister, living in North Providence, Rhode Island, living with his wife of 37 years Julie Coulter, and following the burgeoning lives of eight grandchildren.