Brian A. Wren (born 1936 in Romford, Essex, England) is an internationally published hymn-poet and writer. Wren's hymns appear in hymnals of all Christian traditions and have been influential in raising the awareness of theology in hymns. Brian Wren is married to Rev. Susan M. Heafield, a United Methodist pastor.
Wren served in the British Army for two years (1955–1957) and then received a B.A in Modern Languages from Oxford University (1960), a B.A. in Theology from Oxford University (1962), a D.Phil. in theology of Old Testament from Oxford University (1968), and an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis (2004).[1] His D.Phil. thesis was titled The language of prophetic eschatology in the Old Testament.[2] He was ordained in 1965 in what is now the United Reformed Church, and initially served as the minister of Hockley and Hawkwell Congregational Church, Essex, England (1965–1970).
He then served as the Consultant for adult education for the Churches’ Committee on World Development (1970–1975), the Coordinator of Third World First (now known as People and Planet),[3] and was a member of the Executive Board of the UK Aid Charity, War on Want (1976–1983). He returned to ministry as a free-lance minister (1983–2000) before becoming the Conant Professor of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA, USA (2000–2007).[4] In 2007, Wren retired from Columbia Theological Seminary and was named professor emeritus.
Thoughtedit
Wren has written a number of hymns, books, and articles focused around worship. His hymns are published and used around the world in a variety of hymnals. Wren has published seven hymn collections totaling 250 hymns, as well as collections of worship songs for congregations, published by Choristers Guild, which was created with his partner-in-marriage Rev. Susan Heafield.[5][6] Wren was the runner up in the international Millennium Hymn Competition awarded in February at St Paul's Cathedral, London. His hymn Hidden Christ, Alive For Ever was sung at St Paul's on January 9, 2000 as part of the Cathedral's 'Millennium gift to the nation'.[7]
Wren has been a strong proponent of the view that hymns are poetry and theology, instead of simply music. He has stated, "a hymn is a poem, and a poem is a visual art form. The act of reading a hymn aloud helps to recover its poetry and its power to move us—the power of language, image, metaphor, and faith-expression."[3] It is through this power that he defined theology, in his book Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song, as "done when anyone attempts, by artistic skill and creativity, the interplay of intellect and imagination, and/or the methods of reasoned enquiry, to grasp, know and understand the meaning of God’s creating, self-disclosing and liberating activity centered and uniquely focused in Jesus Christ."[8]
A major part of Wren's work has been with inclusive language as well. In 1978, he began to look more closely at "he-man language" and began using language inclusive of women and oppressed or subordinate groups in his hymns. He has since sought to challenge the church to adopt this inclusive mindset. He writes that the vocation of a poet in the church is to not only "to write poems of faith which people will pick up and sing," but to also "speak truth by stepping beyond the church's limits of comfort and convention".[3]
Publicationsedit
In God Rejoice! (Stainer & Bell Ltd.) 2012.
Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship (Contributor), Edited by Caryl Micklem (London: SCM Press and Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), 1967.
Education for Justice (London: SCM Press and New York: Orbis), 1977.
What Language Shall I Borrow? - God-Talk in Worship: A Male Response to Feminist Theology (New York: Crossroad, and London: SCM Press) 1989.
Piece Together Praise - A Theological Journey: Poems & Collected Hymns Thematically Arranged (Stainer & Bell (London UK) and Hope Publishing (Illinois USA), Words only, with complete indexes) 1996.
Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song (Louisville: Westminster John Kox Press), 2000.
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship (Westminster John Knox Press) 2008.
Hymns for Today (Westminster John Knox Press) 2009.
Love's Open Door: Hymns and Songs 2004-2008 (Hope Publishing Company USA and Stainer & Bell (London UK) 2009.
We Can Be Messengers - Worship Songs: Christmas, Before, and After (2001).
Tell the Good News! - Worship Songs: Easter, Before, and After (2002).
Hymn collectionsedit
Faith Looking Forward 1983.
Praising a Mystery (30 New Hymns), 1986
Bring Many Names (35 New Hymns and 3 Doxologies) 1989.
New Beginnings (30 New Hymns for the 90's) 1993.
Faith Renewed (rewrites from 1983 collection, Faith Looking Forward).
Visions and Revisions (33 New Hymns and Seven Reissues) 1997.
Christ Our Hope (32 New Hymns and Six Reissues) 2004.
Love's Open Door: Hymns and Songs 2004-2008 (Hope Publishing Company USA and Stainer & Bell, London UK) 2009.
Referencesedit
^"CTS to confer four honorary degrees during May 15 commencement". disciplesworldmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015.
^Wren, B. (2016). Wren, Brian A., (1968). The language of prophetic eschatology in the Old Testament. DPhil. University of Oxford. Oxford Research Archive (Thesis). University of Oxford.
^ abc"Poet of Faith: An Interview with Brian Wren". reformedworship.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
^"Brian Wren". Faculty Emeriti Directory. Columbia Theological Seminary.
^"How Hymns Do Theology". praisepartnersworship.com.
External linksedit
Brian Wren and Susan Heafield Website
American Hymn-poet Brian Wren Shares Joy of Song at Annual Event
Poet of Faith: Interview with Brian Wren
Publishing Information on Brian Wren
About Brian Wren
Full text of Brian Wren's doctoral thesis via the Oxford Research Archive
May 02, 2024
brian, wren, brian, wren, born, 1936, romford, essex, england, internationally, published, hymn, poet, writer, wren, hymns, appear, hymnals, christian, traditions, have, been, influential, raising, awareness, theology, hymns, married, susan, heafield, united, . Brian A Wren born 1936 in Romford Essex England is an internationally published hymn poet and writer Wren s hymns appear in hymnals of all Christian traditions and have been influential in raising the awareness of theology in hymns Brian Wren is married to Rev Susan M Heafield a United Methodist pastor Contents 1 Career 2 Thought 3 Publications 4 Hymn collections 5 References 6 External linksCareer editWren served in the British Army for two years 1955 1957 and then received a B A in Modern Languages from Oxford University 1960 a B A in Theology from Oxford University 1962 a D Phil in theology of Old Testament from Oxford University 1968 and an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis 2004 1 His D Phil thesis was titled The language of prophetic eschatology in the Old Testament 2 He was ordained in 1965 in what is now the United Reformed Church and initially served as the minister of Hockley and Hawkwell Congregational Church Essex England 1965 1970 He then served as the Consultant for adult education for the Churches Committee on World Development 1970 1975 the Coordinator of Third World First now known as People and Planet 3 and was a member of the Executive Board of the UK Aid Charity War on Want 1976 1983 He returned to ministry as a free lance minister 1983 2000 before becoming the Conant Professor of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur GA USA 2000 2007 4 In 2007 Wren retired from Columbia Theological Seminary and was named professor emeritus Thought editWren has written a number of hymns books and articles focused around worship His hymns are published and used around the world in a variety of hymnals Wren has published seven hymn collections totaling 250 hymns as well as collections of worship songs for congregations published by Choristers Guild which was created with his partner in marriage Rev Susan Heafield 5 6 Wren was the runner up in the international Millennium Hymn Competition awarded in February at St Paul s Cathedral London His hymn Hidden Christ Alive For Ever was sung at St Paul s on January 9 2000 as part of the Cathedral s Millennium gift to the nation 7 Wren has been a strong proponent of the view that hymns are poetry and theology instead of simply music He has stated a hymn is a poem and a poem is a visual art form The act of reading a hymn aloud helps to recover its poetry and its power to move us the power of language image metaphor and faith expression 3 It is through this power that he defined theology in his book Praying Twice The Music and Words of Congregational Song as done when anyone attempts by artistic skill and creativity the interplay of intellect and imagination and or the methods of reasoned enquiry to grasp know and understand the meaning of God s creating self disclosing and liberating activity centered and uniquely focused in Jesus Christ 8 A major part of Wren s work has been with inclusive language as well In 1978 he began to look more closely at he man language and began using language inclusive of women and oppressed or subordinate groups in his hymns He has since sought to challenge the church to adopt this inclusive mindset He writes that the vocation of a poet in the church is to not only to write poems of faith which people will pick up and sing but to also speak truth by stepping beyond the church s limits of comfort and convention 3 Publications editIn God Rejoice Stainer amp Bell Ltd 2012 Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship Contributor Edited by Caryl Micklem London SCM Press and Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1967 Education for Justice London SCM Press and New York Orbis 1977 What Language Shall I Borrow God Talk in Worship A Male Response to Feminist Theology New York Crossroad and London SCM Press 1989 Piece Together Praise A Theological Journey Poems amp Collected Hymns Thematically Arranged Stainer amp Bell London UK and Hope Publishing Illinois USA Words only with complete indexes 1996 Praying Twice The Music and Words of Congregational Song Louisville Westminster John Kox Press 2000 Advent Christmas and Epiphany Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship Westminster John Knox Press 2008 Hymns for Today Westminster John Knox Press 2009 Love s Open Door Hymns and Songs 2004 2008 Hope Publishing Company USA and Stainer amp Bell London UK 2009 We Can Be Messengers Worship Songs Christmas Before and After 2001 Tell the Good News Worship Songs Easter Before and After 2002 Hymn collections editFaith Looking Forward 1983 Praising a Mystery 30 New Hymns 1986 Bring Many Names 35 New Hymns and 3 Doxologies 1989 New Beginnings 30 New Hymns for the 90 s 1993 Faith Renewed rewrites from 1983 collection Faith Looking Forward Visions and Revisions 33 New Hymns and Seven Reissues 1997 Christ Our Hope 32 New Hymns and Six Reissues 2004 Love s Open Door Hymns and Songs 2004 2008 Hope Publishing Company USA and Stainer amp Bell London UK 2009 References edit CTS to confer four honorary degrees during May 15 commencement disciplesworldmagazine com Archived from the original on 19 March 2015 Wren B 2016 Wren Brian A 1968 The language of prophetic eschatology in the Old Testament DPhil University of Oxford Oxford Research Archive Thesis University of Oxford a b c Poet of Faith An Interview with Brian Wren reformedworship org Retrieved 28 April 2020 Brian Wren Faculty Emeriti Directory Columbia Theological Seminary Brian Wren hymnary org COMPOSER Brian Wren Brian Wren Biography stainer co uk How Hymns Do Theology praisepartnersworship com External links editBrian Wren and Susan Heafield Website American Hymn poet Brian Wren Shares Joy of Song at Annual Event Poet of Faith Interview with Brian Wren Publishing Information on Brian Wren About Brian Wren Full text of Brian Wren s doctoral thesis via the Oxford Research Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian Wren amp oldid 1094309328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
