Cambodian Protestant hymnody

One does not immediately connect Christian hymnody with the country of Cambodia, whose population historically has been approximately 98% Buddhist and minority Christians have been mostly Protestant and Roman Catholic, whose tradition did not emphasize congregational singing. The first Christian hymnal in the Cambodian language (Khmer) was published in July 1958 by the Rev Arthur Hammond (1898–1979), a missionary of the Christian Missionary and Alliance Church. Two thousand copies were printed. About the time of publication, the Rev Hammond returned on leave to the USA and the Rev Clifford Westergren (1933–1998) assumed direction the Alliance Press until 1965, when Prince Sihanouk...