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Hymnal copyright and permissions

Also in Worship books and liturgical texts

The hymns we sing hold the voices and creativity of many writers, composers and translators. Copyright helps honour their work and guides how these gifts may be shared in worship, in print and online. This page offers guidance for using hymns in ways that are both practical and respectful.

This page provides general guidance. Copyright for specific hymns, tunes and musical arrangements rests with the publisher or rights holder(s).

Hymns from Anglican hymnals and supplements may be used for congregational singing in parish life, up to the number of physical copies of the hymnal owned by the parish. Some hymnals, including Common Praise (1998), also permit:

  • printing hymn lyrics or music in service bulletins or worship booklets when supporting congregational singing
  • projecting or displaying lyrics during worship
  • performing hymns in person in a worship setting

These permissions apply only to non-commercial use in local ministry settings.

In cases where the copyright holder is listed as the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada or the Anglican Book Centre, permission for parish, diocesan, religious order or full-communion partner use is granted by the Church.

Digital distribution of copyrighted hymn lyrics or music (PDFs, Word files, email attachments, website uploads or social media) is not permitted without permission from the copyright holder or a licence from a licensing company. Online streaming or broadcast of copyrighted hymns may also require separate licensing and is not automatically permitted.

For guidance on copyright and permissions in Sing A New Creation, see its Copyright and licensing guide (PDF).

Hymns have several possible copyright holders. Copyright may belong to the writer of the text, the composer of the tune, the arranger, the translator or a designated administrator. A hymnal publisher does not automatically own copyright for the hymns it prints.

Some hymns or parts of hymns are in the public domain, which means they can be used freely. Copyright in Canada lasts for the life of the author or composer plus seventy years. In most hymnals, a © symbol appears under any part of a hymn that is copyrighted, such as a tune, descant, arrangement or translation. If no copyright line appears for a particular component, that element is usually in the public domain.

Because many hymns combine public-domain elements with copyrighted components, permission is required only for the copyrighted portions.

Licensing companies represent many hymn writers and composers and grant permissions for reproduction, projection, livestreaming and performance. The two most commonly used by Anglican parishes are:

Coverage varies by hymn and by hymnal. A hymnal or supplement may include hymns that are:

  • fully covered by a licensing company
  • partly covered (for example, text covered but tune not covered)
  • not covered at all

Licensing coverage changes over time. Parishes should consult their licensing provider for authoritative guidance.

Permission requests

Some uses require written permission from the copyright holder, including:

  • posting copyrighted lyrics or music online
  • recording and distributing hymn performances
  • creating new arrangements or translations
  • commercial use
  • any reproduction not permitted by your licence or by the hymnal’s permissions

To request permission, contact the copyright holder listed in the hymnal or the relevant licensing company. If copyright holder contact information is not available, contact the publisher of the hymnal.

If the item is credited to the General Synod or the Anglican Book Centre, contact [email protected]. Please include any relevant timing considerations so the context of your request is clear.

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.