This volume serves as a comprehensive repository of English hymnody, aiming to preserve and organize the most significant liturgical music from the medieval period through the early twentieth century. The editors at Oxford University Press compiled this collection to provide a definitive resource for congregational singing and private devotion. By categorizing these works, the text establishes a structured framework for understanding the evolution of liturgical music within the Anglican tradition and beyond.

Experts and clergy members frequently cite this volume as a foundational reference for traditional liturgical music. Readers often note the academic rigor and historical depth present in the selection, making it a standard resource for church musicians and scholars of religious history.