March is Women's History Month and Women in Music Month.
There are festivals honoring the contributions of women in music, concerts celebrating repertoire by women composers, and publications about women writers and creators who have been relegated to the sidelines throughout history.
This is a great time to discover, program, and perform music created by women and learn more about the women composers, musicians, and poets who have contributed to our field.
In church music, there is a rich history of women composers and authors sharing poetry, hymns, anthems, and service music. To celebrate Women in Music Month, here is a collection of church music written by women.
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Hymns Texts and Tunes Written by Women
The following hymns feature texts and tunes written by women. Let me know if you have any to add!
Blessed Assurance (text: Fanny Crosby, tune: Phoebe Palmer Knapp)
¡Canta, Dėbora, Canta! (Luiza Cruz)
Dear Lord, Lead Me Day by Day (Francisca Asuncion)
Freely, Freely (Carol Owens)
Go Now in Peace (Natalie Sleeth)
Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship (Amanda Husberg)
His Name is Wonderful (Audrey Mieir)
Hymn of Promise (Natalie Sleeth)
I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light (Kathleen Thomerson)
Let It Breath On Me (Magnolia Lewis-Butts)
Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (text: Claudia F. Hernaman, tune: USA folk melody; arr. by Annabel Morris Buchanan)
O God in Heaven (Elena G. Maquiso)
Open My Eyes That I May See (Clara H. Scott)
Seek Ye First (Karen Lafferty)
Sweet, Sweet Spirit (Doris Akers)
The First One Ever (Linda Wilberger Egan)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Helen Lemmel)
Wellspring of Wisdom (Miriam Therese Winter)
What Gift Can We Bring (Jane Marshall)
When We All Get to Heaven (text: Eliza E. Hewitt, tune: Emily D. Wilson, arr. Valeria A. Foster)
Hymn Tunes Composed by Women
Here are a few hymn tunes that were composed by women (including those listed above plus a few more).
ANNIVERSARY SONG (Jane Marshall)
ASSURANCE (Phoebe Palmer Knapp)
AUTHORITY (Carol Doran)
BALLAD (Linda Wilberger Egan)
COTTAGE GROVE (Francisca Asuncion)
FALCONE (Carol Doran)
FREELY, FREELY (Carol Owens)
GO NOW IN PEACE (Natalie Sleeth)
GOD’S NAME (Carol Doran)
HEAVEN (Emily D. Wilson)
HIGH STREET (Jane Marshall)
HOUSTON (Katheleen Thomerson)
LAFFERTY (Karen Lafferty)
LAND OF REST (USA folk melody; arr. by Annabel Morris Buchanan)
LEMMEL (Helen Lemmel)
MIEIR (Audrey Mieir)
OPEN MY EYES (Clara H. Scott)
PROMISE (Natalie Sleeth)
SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT (Doris Akers)
WELLESLEY (Lizzie Shove Tourjee)
WELLSPRING (Miriam Therese Winter)
Hymn Texts Written by Women
This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but instead a sampling of hymn texts written by women (paired with tunes composed by men).
All the Way My Savior Leads Me (Fanny Crosby)
All Things Bright and Beautiful (Cecil Frances Alexander)
America the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates)
At the Name of Jesus (Caroline M. Noel)
Become to Us the Living Bread (Miriam Drury)
Beneath the Cross of Jesus (Elizabeth C. Clephane)
Break Thou the Bread of Life (Mary Lathbury)
Children of the Heavenly Father (Carolina V. Sandell-Berg)
Close to Thee (Fanny Crosby)
Day Is Dying in the West (Mary A. Lathbury)
Dear Lord, for All in Pain (Amy W. Carmichael)
Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (Rosamond E. Herklots)
God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens (Catherine Cameron)
Grace Greater Than Our Sin (Julia H. Johnston)
Have Thine Own Way, Lord (Adelaide A. Pollard)
Heralds of Christ (Laura S. Copenhaver)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Civilla D. Martin)
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (Jeanette Threlfall)
I Am Thine, O Lord (Fanny Crosby)
I Love to Tell the Story (Katherine Hankey)
I Need Thee Every Hour (Annie Sherwood Hawks)
I Sing a Song of the Saints of God (Lesbia Scott)
In the Bleak Midwinter (Christina Rossetti)
Jesus Calls Us (Cecil Frances Alexander)
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (Fanny Crosby)
Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands (Margaret Cropper)
Just As I Am, Without One Plea (Charlotte Elliott)
Like A River Glorious (Frances R. Havergal)
Lonely the Boat (Helen Kim)
Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak (Frances R. Havergal)
More Love to Thee (Elizabeth Prentiss)
Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon)
Nearer, My God, to Thee (Sarah Adams)
O Breath of Life (Bessie Porter Head)
O Holy Spirit, Root of Life (Hildegard von Bingen, adapted by Jean Janzen)
O Perfect Love (Dorothy B. Gurney)
O Zion, Haste (Mary A. Thomson)
Out of the Depths, O God, We Call (Ruth C. Duck)
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior (Fanny Crosby)
People, Look East (Eleanor Farjeon)
Precious Name (Lydia Baxter)
Rescue the Perishing (Fanny Crosby)
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (attr. to Dorothy A. Thrupp)
Shalom to You (Elise S. Eslinger)
Shout to the Lord (Darlene Zschesch)
Something Beautiful (Gloria Gaither)
Take My Life and Let it Be (Frances R. Havergal)
The Kingdom of God (Gracia Grindal)
The Only Son from Heaven (Elizabeth Creutiziger)
Thy Holy Wings, O Savior (Caroline V. Sandell-Berg, trans. by Gracia Grindal)
Thy Word Is a Lamp (Amy Grant)
To a Maid Engaged to Joseph (Gracia Grindal)
To God Be the Glory (Fanny Crosby)
Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters (Ruth Duck)
We, Thy People, Praise Thee (Kate Stearns Page)
When Christmas Morn Is Dawning (attr. to Elisabeth Ehrenborg-Posse)
Choral Service Music
Printable introits and responses for SATB Choir
Service Music by Women Composers
Service music is a collection of brief musical responses that serve a functional purpose within the worship service: they help tie the liturgical elements of the service together and spark theological insights in those listening.
Here are a few collections of choral service music written by women:
→ Choral Responses for Worship (SATB) (Emma Lou Diemer)
This collection features 30 original responses including 12 Amens, 7 introits, 4 invitations to prayer, 3 prayer responses, 3 responses to Scripture, and 4 benediction responses.
→ Advent Introits and Benedictions (SATB + opt. handbells) (Anna Laura Page)
I love that this collection includes six optional handbells. Inside, you’ll find two festive introits and two reflective benedictions.
→ Three Lenten Benedictions (SATB) (Barbara Furman)
Three short benediction responses that are especially appropriate during the season of Lent
→ Sunday Rounds (Unison/2-part/3-part) (Alice Parker)
Alice Parker created a set of simple rounds for worship that are versatile enough for children, youth, or adult choirs, or a combined intergenerational experience.
→ Songs for the Sanctuary I (SATB) (Ashley Danyew)
Three pieces of original service music to use as introits or responses
→ Songs for the Sanctuary II (SATB) (Ashley Danyew)
Three pieces of original service music to use as introits or responses
→ Songs for the Sanctuary: Alleluias & Amens (SATB) (Ashley & Steve Danyew)
Three Alleluias and three Amens for use throughout the worship service
Related post: How to Use Choral Service Music in Worship
Choral Anthems by Women Composers
Looking for anthems written by women composers? Here are several to consider:
Choral Music by Women Composers Database (Orange County Women's Chorus)
20 Anthems by Women Composers that My Church Choir Sang This Season (Sarah Bereza)
48 Anthems by Women Composers (3-Part and SATB) (Ashley Danyew)
36 Children's Choir Anthems by Women Composers (Unison/2-Part) (Ashley Danyew)
References:
These are the resources I consulted when writing this post:
North American Women Hymn Writers (CBE International)—biographical information and works by six exemplary hymn writers from North America
The United Methodist Hymnal
Hymnary.org—ability to filter search by gender, discover the number of times a particular text or tune appears in print, and find biographical information on women writers
Women of Christianity: Hymn Writers—a great list of women writers (with birth-death dates) and helpful links to hymn history and stories
The Women of Lutheran Service Book You Might Not Know About (Concordia Publishing House)—biographical information for four women composers taken from the Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns
Three Women Hymn Writers (Discipleship Ministries)—from the Medieval era to the present day
I’d love to hear from you:
What are your favorite publications or websites for sourcing church music written by women?
