Category Archives: Hymns

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

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In Spring 2026, Dr. Laura Carroll’s ENGL 325: Advanced Composition students were challenged to engage Special Collections broadly, and, more specifically, with the hymnal collection. Each student wrote a research paper on a topic inspired by the hymnal collection. Their research included databases, interviews, library print resources, and data collection. Today we welcome ACU student Mikhail Fortner to the blog. Read on to learn more about his research. 

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

This research paper is centered on the proposition “How does the historical context of 18th century hymn writing contribute to the composition of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing?” There was a scarcity of online material directly regarding the writer of the hymn, Robert Robinson. Baptist church history journals proved the most useful for the biography of Robinson. However, there were quite a few journals regarding how Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts shaped hymn composition during that time, one from a church history journal and a couple from theological and philosophical journals.

The paper originally was centered around Robinson’s biography, life, and any supplementary material directly regarding the hymn. However, most of the research focused on the theological significance in the wording of the hymn’s lyrics. The English Renaissance particularly shaped the literary and theological scene, as Calvinistic and Arminian themes abounded within this hymn. Research shows that Watt’s emphasis on transcendence reflects the emphasis of the Holy Spirit in the hymn. Additionally, Wesley’s influence is prominent in the emphasis of atonement and the theme of invitation. The title of the hymn itself could be inspired by his sermons.

The division of the Stoneyard church at which Robinson was preaching served as motivation for the composition of his hymn, highlighting the united power of the Holy Spirit and the need for grace. His hymn was composed to the tune “Nettleton” by John Wyeth; a possible original title to the song could have been “Hallelujah” or “Good Shepherd” (Hymnary.org). “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” is rooted in Scripture, containing references to 1 Samuel, Jeremiah, and Acts. The latter lines of the hymn provide a compelling commentary on free will and determination. The reference to fetters particularly highlights the idea that grace shackles one to the will of God, however, the hymn also hints at the idea that one allows this grace to overwhelm. The parallel to Milton was a fascinating discovery regarding man’s choice to follow the righteous path or to stray.

The significance of this hymn’s composition mandates an examination of the process of song writing for worship. While hymns can allude to current and past literature, art, and culture, its foundation must be the Scriptures. Often, the simplest lyrics, directly paralleling or quoting Scripture, are the most impactful for the believer. Attention should be given to reexamining past hymns across denominations to seek context and meaning. The full significance of a hymn often lies beyond what is explicitly stated in the lyrics, as historical and theological contexts provide a wider scope of understanding.

Sources

Berg, Daniel N. “The Theological Context of American Wesleyanism.” Wesleyan Theological Journal, vol. 20, no. 1, Dec. 1985, pp. 45–60. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=fbfa2a56-ac82-393a-934c-c561a738d62a.

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Hymnary.org, hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing.

ESV Study Bible : English Standard Version. 2001. Crossway Bibles, 2016.

Foundation, Poetry. “Paradise Lost: Book 3 (1674 Version) by John Milton.” Poetry Foundation, 21 Sept. 2021, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45739/paradise-lost-book-3-1674-version.

Greenwood, John. George Whitefield. 1769, mezzotint on paper. National Portrait Gallery, https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.75.77.

Harlan, Lowell B. “Theology of Eighteenth Century English Hymns.” Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church, vol. 48, no. 2, June 1979, pp. 167–93. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=1c6cf69d-a403-318f-8a16-6ec3b373631c.

Haykin, Michael A. G. “‘Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing’: Robert Robinson and His Hymnic Celebration of Sovereign Grace.” Semănătorul, vol. 5, no. 1, Dec. 2024, pp. 138–55. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.58892/ts.swr5160

Knapp, John. “Isaac Watts’s Unfixed Hymn Genre.” Modern Philology, vol. 109, no. 4, May 2012, pp. 463–82. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1086/665976.

McKibbens, Thomas R. “Robert Robinson: Baptist Historian with a Passion for Preaching.” Baptist History and Heritage, vol. 15, no. 4, Dec. 1980, pp. 12–18. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=73448717-c964-3e63-8bed-2ace4c6c08c0.

Robinson, Robert. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. A Collection of Hymns Used by the Church of Christ, 1758, hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Rushford, Jerry. “Hymns of the Season: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Pepperdine.edu, Caruso School of Law – Pepperdine University, 2020, library.pepperdine.edu/news/posts/hymns-of-the-season-come-thou-fount-of-every-blessing.htm.

“The Wesley Center Online: Wesley Hymn Collection.” Nnu.edu, 2026, wesley.nnu.edu/charles-wesley/wesley-hymn-collection/#c5840. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Tice, Adam M. L. “‘Come, Thou Font of Ev’Ry Blessing.’” The Hymn, vol. 65, no. 2, Dec. 2014, pp. 34–35. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=ee037502-0fd3-3320-929b-9a7fa8b73636.

Thank you, Mikhail, for sharing your research with us. We’ll be back soon to highlight more student research inspired by our hymnal holdings. 

Tradition and Transformation: Worship Evolution at Abilene Christian University

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In Spring 2026, Dr. Laura Carroll’s ENGL 325: Advanced Composition students were challenged to engage Special Collections broadly, and, more specifically, with the hymnal collection. Each student wrote a research paper on a topic inspired by the hymnal collection. Their research included databases, interviews, library print resources, and data collection. Today we welcome ACU student Ashlyn Anderson to the blog. Read on to learn more about her research. 

My research project explored the evolution of worship practices at Abilene Christian University and asked the question: how did a university so deeply rooted in a cappella tradition begin incorporating instrumental and blended worship services? I was interested in understanding whether this change represented a rejection of traditional Church of Christ beliefs or a response to changing student expectations over time. Through my research, I found that the shift was gradual and heavily influenced by media exposure, contemporary Christian culture, and the increasing diversity of students coming to campus from different religious backgrounds.

To answer this question, I used a combination of theological texts, historical studies, university lectures, and archival student newspaper articles. One of my main sources was The Instrumental Music Issue by Everett Ferguson, which explained the biblical reasoning behind a cappella worship traditions in Churches of Christ. I also examined historical studies about the interpretation of Ephesians 5:19 and speeches by Jeff Nelson and George Bailey discussing worship changes at ACU. One of the most interesting parts of my research was reading archived issues of The Optimist, where students publicly debated instrumental worship over several decades.

What surprised me most was how emotional and divisive the debate became among students. Earlier articles from the 1980s showed strong resistance to instrumental worship, with many students arguing that instruments lacked biblical authority. Other students defended instrumental worship by pointing to scripture and arguing that worship practices could evolve. By the late 2000s and early 2010s, however, student perspectives had shifted noticeably. Many students viewed blended worship as more inclusive and welcoming to people from different church backgrounds, and some believed it helped ACU remain relevant to modern students.

Ultimately, my research showed that ACU’s worship evolution reflects a balance between preserving tradition and adapting to cultural change. Rather than abandoning its heritage, the university expanded its worship practices to create a more inclusive spiritual environment while still honoring its historical identity.

Thank you, Ashlyn, for sharing your research with us. We’ll be back soon to highlight more student research inspired by our hymnal holdings. 

While on The Sea: A Hymn by Epi Stephan Bilak and Jack Boyd

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One of the additions in the 1975 supplement to Great Songs of the Church was Epi Stephan Bilak’s translation of a Ukrainian poem.  Jack Boyd, then professor and Director of Choral Activities at ACC, arranged the music and the song became #669 in the supplement.  Shortly thereafter Boyd and the ACC chorus issued a set of LP albums to assist congregations in learning these additional selections.  Below is a scan of the song from the 1975 edition of Great Songs of the Church, Number Two, With Supplement and a link to the LP album recording which may be streamed or downloaded.  The clip immediately below contains just the Bilak-Boyd version of While on the Sea.

While on the Sea, Epi Stephan Bilak and Jack Boyd – PDF

Supplement to Great Songs of the Church, album, side 7 – mp3

Direct link to While on the Sea audio file

While on the Sea, Epi Stephan Bilak and Jack Boyd, Great Songs of the Church, Number 2, 1975

If you are interested in learning more about Epi Stephan Bilak and his work in Ukraine, please browse these materials in our online repository.