launched at General Synod 

in Dublin on 11 May 2005

Since the publication of the new "Church Hymnal" in 2000 the general Editor, Bishop Edward Darling (former Rector of St John's) and the Music Editor, Dr Donald Davison (organist in St John's) have spent the last three years researching the provenance of, and the stories behind, all the hymns and their tunes for a new 1200 page book  "Companion to Church Hymnal",  which also includes a short history of hymnody in the Church of Ireland., as well as the biographical details of their authors and composers.

The book was launched by the Revd Canon Alan Luff, Chairman of the Pratt Green Trust, editor of HymnQuest, formerly Precentor of Westminster Abbey and Chairman of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland

The Revd Canon Alan Luff

Dr Donald Davison

Bishop Edward Darling

Some of those who attended the launch