This volume serves as a comprehensive collection of traditional and contemporary liturgical music designed to facilitate communal worship in diverse settings. Compiled by Oxford University Press in association with the BBC, the book organizes a wide array of musical compositions to support the practical needs of churches, schools, and religious organizations. It functions as a standardized reference for selecting hymns and worship songs suitable for various liturgical contexts.

Users frequently identify this collection as a practical, utilitarian resource for congregational singing and school assemblies. Experts note that its strength lies in the breadth of its selection rather than deep musicological or historical analysis.