Welcome to our online church

It took a global pandemic to make it happen, but here we are. Some of us wondering how it will work, some wondering if it will work, and a few hopefuls wondering why we never thought of this before. The answer is simple: necessity really is the mother of invention.

So this Sunday is our first ever online service, starting at 11am. To join in, follow this link: https://zoom.us/j/333352251.
Juts follow the instructions on the screen, and we'll do the rest! It works on any kind of computer, tablet, or smartphone.

If you prefer to use an ordinary telephone instead of computers, call this number instead: 0203 051 2874
When prompted, input this meeting ID: 333 352 251

​Everyone is welcome! (except trolls)

Hymns for online services

Some other Unitarian congregations have been wondering what to do about hymns if they stream online services.
​I thought I'd share some things I've learned. There are two main issues:

• Synchronisation, and
• Copyright.

Synchronisation is an issue because there is a bit of a delay in the sound. If you're just streaming via YouTube or Facebook live, that's fine. But if your service is an interactive one where everyone can speak via their  webcams, don't expect everyone to be able to sing at the same time. What you need to do is mute everyone's mic except the one providing the music. This may be hard for everyone to sing to, of course, unless there is someone singing along in the same room as the keyboard player or CD player.

The other issue is much more thorny, and that's copyright. Essentially, you can use some hymns, but you have to be careful which ones. There is a very helpful Facebook post over on the Kent Unitarians site explaining more about this.
If you haven't read it, that should be your first port of call.

Further to that, I've decided to make a recording. This is hymn no 5 in Hymns for Living (the green book). It's in the public domain, both for melody and lyrics, and I give permission for my recording to be used freely in any religious context. Get in touch if you would like an MP3 to download. I hope this will be first of many.

As for copyright issues, I know it can be really confusing. I've been navigating these waters for some time, so I'm going to start by listing which hymns are safe to use for Unitarian churches (to the best of my knowledge. You are liable for your own copyright violations, so it's best to check for yourself). Note that "Safe" only means you can perform a hymn. There are separate copyrights that apply to each specific recording.

Hymns For Living (the green book):

1.  Lord of the Wondrous Earth - NOT SAFE. The music is copyrighted until 2028, and the words for much longer.
2. Brief Our Days - Probably Safe. The music is long out of copyright, and the words are by a UU.
3.  Joy of Living - Probably Safe. The music is long out of copyright, and the words are by a UU minister.
4.  Source of Life. NOT SAFE. Music is copyrighted until 2044, but interestingly the words do come out of copyright next year in 2051.
5. Fill My Life With Praise - Safe. Music is long in the public domain and so are the words. If you're going to be picky you could worry about the arranger, who died in 1958. If he held copyright, he'd hold it until 2028. But arrangers don't generally control copyright unless they make significant changes to the music. If you're worried, do your own arrangement!
6.  Sons and Daughters - unknown. The music is safe, but no year is given in the green book for when the writers died, and I can't find anything about them or the Hodgin Press online. Does anyone know?
7.  Source of All Being - Safe. Music and lyrics long out of copyright.
8. Life that Maketh All Things New - Safe. Music and lyrics long out of copyright.
9. So Simple is the Human Heart - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
10.  Thou One in All, Thou All in One - Safe. The music and lyrics are out of  copyright,  and the arranger (David Dawson) is a Unitarian.
11.  Hymn to Perfect Wisdom - Probably Safe. The music is out of copyright and the writer is a UU.
12. Hymn to the Sole God - Probably Safe. As above.
13.  Eternal Ruler - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
14. The Beauty of the Earth - Safe. Music, arrangement, and lyrics out of copyright.
15.  For All That is our Life - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian.
16.  Praise From All the Human Race - Not Safe. Both music and lyrics still in copyright.
17.  Song of Thanksgiving - Not Safe. Music is fine, but lyrics still in copyright and author's tradition is unknown.
18.  We Gather Together - Not Safe. As above.
19. Now Thank We All Our God - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
20. My God I thank Thee - Safe. As above.
21. King of Glory, King of Peace - Safe. As above.
22. God of Life - Safe. As above.
23. We Are Met to Worship Thee - Safe. As above.
24. Transforming Grace - Safe. As above.
25. Where'er Thy People Meet - Safe. As above.
26. Spirit Divine! Attend Our Prayer - Safe. As Above.
27.  To Cloisters of the Spirit - Safe. As above.
28.  The Tides of the Spirit - Probably Safe. Music is out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian.
29.  God Within - Safe. Lyrics are out of copyright, and the composer David Dawson has given permission for his hymns to be used in this way .
30. Immortal Love, for Ever Full - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
31.  The Flow of Life - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, arrangement and lyrics both by Unitarians.
32.  Kum ba Yah (Come by Here) - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
33.  Do You Hear? - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics by a writer possibly outside our tradition.
34.  Where Is Your God - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
35.  The Living God - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, and lyrics by a UU.
36.  Star Born - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian minister.
37.  Thy Kingdom Come - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a UU.
38.  Wonder - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics copyrighted until 2028.
39.  We Move in Faith - Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, music by David Dawson.
40. The Depths of Inner Space - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a UU.
41. I Cannot Lose Thee! - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
42.  A Dream of Widening Love - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics possibly from outside our tradition.
43.  Universal Spirit - Probably Not Safe. Although the music is out of copyright and so are the original Czech words, both the arrangement and the English version of the words are newer.
44.  Come, My Life - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
45. Come Down, O Love Divine - Not Safe. The lyrics are out of copyright, but the music is copyrighted until 2028.
46.  Breath of God - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
47.  Work Shall Be Prayer - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
48.  From All the Fret and Fever - Not Safe. Both music and lyrics still in copyright.
49.  Leisure - Safe. Lyrics out of copyright and music by David Dawson.
50. Not Always on the Mount - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
51.  Inward Peace and Inward Living - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian.
52. Divinity Is Round Us - Not Safe. Both music and lyrics still in copyright.
53.  Calm Soul of All Things - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
54. Every Night and Every Morn - Not Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, but music is copyrighted until 2028.
55.  Scorn Not the Slightest Word - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
56.  Faith - Not Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, but music copyrighted until 2027.
57. Teach Me, My God and King - Safe. Music and lyrics long out of copyright.
58. The Soul's Sincere Desire - Safe. Music and lyrics out of copyright.
59. Prayer for Strength - Not Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, but music copyrighted until 2028.
60. Trust in Life - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian minister.
61.  My Spirit Longs For Thee - Safe
    
62. God Moves in a Mysterious Way - Safe
    
63. Holy Spirit, Truth Divine - Safe
    
64. The Old Hundredth - Safe
    
65. O God Our Help in Ages Past - Safe
    
66.  The Lord's My Shepherd - Safe
    
67. In Praise of Wisdom - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a UU.
    
68. Praise the Great and Famous - Safe
    
69. Praise to the Living God - Safe
    
70. O Worship the King - Safe
    
71. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Safe
    
72. My God and King - Safe
    
73. A Mighty Fortress - Safe
    
74.  We are the Earth - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a UU.
    
75. God of Ages and of Nations - Safe
    
76. Immortal, Invisible - Safe
    
77. Our Parents' Faith - Safe
    
78.  Honourable Saints - Safe. Music out of copyright & lyrics by Andrew Hill, a Unitarian (permission given)
    
79. For All the Saints - Not Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, but music still in copyright until 2028.
    
80. The Child is Promise - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics by a writer possibly outside our tradition.
    
81. Advent Hymn - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a Unitarian.
    
82. People, Look East - Not Safe. Music out of copyright but lyrics still copyrighted until 2035.
    
83. These Festive Days - Not Safe. Writer possibly outside our tradition. Music fine.
    
84. While Shepherds Watched - Safe
    
85. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Safe
    
86. In the Lonely Midnight - Safe. Lyrics out of copyright, music by David Dawson, a Unitarian (permission given).
    
87.  In the Bleak Midwinter - Safe
    
88. Silent Night - Safe
    
89.  Long Ago, in Manger Low - Safe
    
90. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Safe
    
91. Midnight Clear - Safe
    
92. The First Nowell - Safe
    
93. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - Safe
    
94. I Heard the Bells - Safe
    
95.  O Come, All Ye Faithful - Safe
    
96. Joy to the World - Safe
    
97. The Universal Incarnation - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, arrangement by a Unitarian, words by a UU.
    
98. The Son of Man - Safe
    
99. When Jesus Walked - Not Safe. Music is out of copyright, but writer is possibly outside our tradition.
    
100. The Presence Everywhere - Safe
     
101. Dear Lord and Father - Safe
     
102. Hosanna in the Highest - Not Safe. Lyrics copyrighted until 2037.
     
103.  O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - Safe
     
104. Beneath the Shadow of the Cross - Safe
     
105. Now in the Tomb is Laid - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics in copyright.
     
106. The Brave of Old - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics in copyright until 2033.
     
107. Brightly Breaks the Easter Morn - Safe
     
108.  Death's Dominion is Past - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics in copyright until 2034.
     
109. Life's Rebirth - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics copyrighted
110.  Through Human Means - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by Cliff Reed (A Unitarian).
     
111.  Mighty Spirit, Gracious Tide - Safe
     
112. The Holy Spirit - Probably Safe. Music out of copyright, lyrics by a UU.
     
113. Flame of Living Fire - Safe
     
114. Let There Be Light - Safe
     
115.  Christ Cometh Not a King - Safe
     
116. Praise, My Soul - Safe
     
117. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee - Safe
     
118. All Loves Excelling - Safe
     
119. O'er Continent and Ocean - Not Safe. Music out of copyright, but lyrics copyrighted until 2034.
     
120. Life of Ages, Richly Poured - Safe
     
121. City of God - Safe
     
122. One Holy Church - Safe

I intend to continue this list over time (last updated: 21/03/20). If you need to check a particular hymn for yourself, here is my guide:

• To check if the music is safe, look at the name and dates above the score. The relevant bit is when the composer DIED. If they died more than 70 years ago (so before 1950), it's out of copyright.
• To check if the words/lyrics are safe, look at the name(s) at the end of the words. Again you're looking for the date the writer DIED. Same again, if they died more than 70 years ago, the words are out of copyright.
• If they're both out of copyright, it's safe. If one or both are still living or died less than 70 years ago, it's not safe unless you can get their (or their publisher or heir's) permission. However, if you look them up and find out that they're a Unitarian or UU, they probably won't come after you with a hatchet. Though I'm not promising anything!

Hope you're staying safe and positive at this trying time.
Holland Morrell, Doncaster Unitarians