LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Things to Remember:
Setting the Stage for the Reformation
Submitted to Dr. Rodney D. Whaley
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
WRSP 502
History of Worship Music
by
Hadley Willson
During the first several centuries, the early church’s worship shifted from being pure and
simple, with public services being loosely structured, to being more structured with set liturgies
and rules. Some of these rules included no dancing, use of instruments, or dramatic plays as a way
of abstaining from the wicked ways of Rome.1 Moreover, the Council of Laodicea, which
assembled between AD 343 and AD 381, issued a decree stating that, "No others shall sing in the
Church" other than canonical singers who would sing from a hymnal on the platform.2 This
declaration began the silent centuries of the Church and was published in order to control the
spread of heretical theology and songs.3 Worship songs, then, were written strictly from Scripture
as a way of teaching theology, focusing on the nature of God and the personhood of Christ.
Consequently, the presentation and preparation of worship music by clergymen grew in
prominence in the early Church, which resulted in more extravagant services.4 Furthermore, the
common people could no longer worship in their own language, own their own copy of the Bible,
or sing in public services.
In AD 476, the Roman Empire completely crumbled, and the Middle Ages began, giving
rise to asceticism and monasticism, which was defined as a life of extreme self-discipline, prayer,
and fasting.5 During this time, “new forms of worship” ushered into the Church, including chants,
Saint Benedict’s “Rule,”6 and polyphonic songs. Although these more elaborate Gregorian chants
had no specific song key, “the monks developed a system called modes,” which “was identified by
its sequence of intervals.”7 Furthermore, since there was now more freedom in writing songs, the
1 Elmer L. Towns and Vernon M. Whaley, Worship Through the Ages: How the Great Awakenings Shape
Evangelical Worship. (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 20, 72.
2 Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul. (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2011), 23-24.
3 Elmer L. Towns and Vernon M. Whaley, Worship Through the Ages: How the Great Awakenings Shape
Evangelical Worship. (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2012), 76.
4 Towns and Whaley, Worship Through the Ages, 78.
5 Ibid., 87.
6 Ibid., 92.
7 Ibid., 93.
Church leaders continued to use hymns as a way of teaching theology. Consequently, the Church
minimized Scripture reading in services, since many common people were not educated to read in
Latin, and the use of hymns and modes was the primary way of teaching theology to the
congregations. The last worship innovation was the invention of written notation for music.8 With
the innovation of using specific shapes to indicate pitch, worship songs no longer had to be passed
down orally or memorized.
Finally, congregational singing reappeared during the Reformation AD 1517. The most
prominent figured during this period was Martin Luther (1483-1546), who believed that everyone
should own their own copy of the Bible and be able to read it in their own language. Thus, he
translated the Bible and hymnbooks from Latin to German so the common people could worship in
their own language.9 He also encouraged congregational singing of worship songs and believed
that people could go directly to God in prayer and worship. Since worship was to include all
peoples now, worship songs became less complicated than the polyphonic chants of the Middle
Ages, consisting of only four-part harmonies. Luther also wrote joyful hymns in the secular style
with theological lessons and praises, and he even believed in power of one’s testimony as he wrote
many songs of testimony.
In conclusion, the Reformation revived people’s personal faith journeys with God,
becoming strongly individualistic in their approach to Him.10 Today, worship songs are written in
popular music styles, consisting of simple four-part melodies which are easy for the congregation
to learn and sing. In addition, the Bible is now available 700 plus languages, making it possible for
people of all nations to own their own copy and read it in their own language. By celebrating the
8 Ibid., 95.
9 Ibid., 108.
10 Ibid., 111.
