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Common Praise (1998)

Common Praise (1998) is the most widely used hymnal in the Anglican Church of Canada, featuring 769 hymns and pieces of service music for worship throughout the church year. It provides a balanced mix of traditional Anglican hymns, ecumenical songs and contemporary compositions, serving as a versatile resource for congregations, clergy and church musicians.

Available formats include editions with music and lyrics, lyrics-only editions in large print or Braille and a wirebound version with music and lyrics for organists and accompanists. For new voices and contemporary songs that complement Common Praise, the companion supplement Sing A New Creation offers additional hymnody and liturgical settings.

Suggested uses

  • Leading congregational worship in parish settings
  • Planning music for seasonal liturgies, feast days and special services
  • Accompaniment for choirs, soloists and instrumental ensembles
  • Personal or small group devotional singing

Key themes

  • Anglican liturgical tradition and hymnody
  • Ecumenical music collaborations
  • Blend of traditional and contemporary worship music
  • Music suitable for all seasons of the church year

Best suited for: parishes, church musicians, choir directors, clergy and congregants seeking a comprehensive hymnal resource for Anglican worship.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.