Lift Every Voice and Sing II Pew Edition Review: A Treasury of Black Sacred Song

If your congregation is looking to faithfully incorporate the beauty of African American sacred music into Sunday worship, this pew edition deserves serious attention. Church Publishing, rooted in the Episcopal tradition, has produced a collection that honors the Black church's musical heritage while remaining usable within liturgical settings.

The hymnal opens with the titular hymn itself—a fitting choice for what is essentially an act of corporate worship reclamation. From there, you'll find a generous mix of traditional spirituals, classic hymn arrangements, contemporary pieces, and liturgical resources including canticles and service music. The arrangement flows roughly from Gathering through Sending, which will feel natural if your church follows a liturgical calendar.

What's here that you won't find in standard evangelical hymnals? The inclusion of traditional spirituals arranged thoughtfully for congregational singing is perhaps the greatest gift. These are songs with deep historical and theological weight—songs of lament, hope, and deliverance that have shaped generations of Black Christian faith. Having them presented with dignity and musical care, rather than as afterthoughts, matters.

The physical edition is built for real use. The binding allows it to lay flat on a pew, which any organist or choir director will appreciate. Page turns are manageable during congregational singing. That said, this is a heavy book—weighing in at well over two pounds—which matters for congregants with mobility or strength limitations.

Theologically, you'll find orthodox Christian content throughout. The Episcopal liturgical lens shows in the structure and some of the service texts, so this fits most comfortably in mainline Protestant contexts comfortable with that tradition. Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-liturgical churches may find themselves adapting some elements or selectively pulling from the collection rather than using it as a complete Sunday morning resource.

This isn't a supplement you'll browse casually. It's a foundational worship resource for churches that have already decided to prioritize this musical heritage—or for music leaders building a more inclusive congregational song library.

A hymn is a prayer set to music. This collection answers the call to pray in a full voice.