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Favourite hymns from Sunday school days. The choice of cheerful and uplifting hymns is reassuringly traditional and includes many which will be remembered from occasions such as weddings and christenings. A selection of hymns might seem at first to be a curious thing. For many people, these hymns will bring back memories, of school assemblies, of Sunday school and church. But the hymns are more than just memories. They are inspiring, uplifting and moving, and have a relevance to us all. However, their words and music have a comfort factor which can stand independently of their original church setting, and the lovely tunes can be enjoyed simply for their own sake. The hymns can have a direct relevance to anybody who enjoys good music whether or not they wish to sing along!This selection of favourite hymns comes mainly from the Victorian period from a hymnbook known as 'Hymns Ancient and Modern'. This book set a new standard for church music when it appeared in 1861. It assembled a large collection of hymns from several centuries of music-making in the church, from all around the world, from some of the earliest Christian hymns of the early Greek church to the robust music and texts from the Germany of Martin Luther and the Reformation of the sixteenth century. In addition there were many hymns newly composed which reflected the two main 'high' and 'low' church traditions of Great Britain since Henry VIII's own Reformation took hold. Many of the hymns were composed by leading British musicians of the day, and they are often miniature musical masterpieces.