We have a gospel to proclaim

We have a gospel to proclaim. Edward Joseph Burns* (1938- ). Written in 1968 for the Chorley Deanery of the Blackburn Diocese when Burns was vicar of St Peter’s, Chorley. It was written for a ‘Call to Mission’, and is a dignified and central response to such an occasion. During the ‘Call’ there were four meetings, each one expounding a theme: Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Pentecost. Stanzas 2-5 record these subjects. The hymn was published in 100HfT (1969), and thus in A&MNS; it has since been included in almost every major British hymnbook except RS. Stanza 1 line 2 was originally ‘Good news for men in all the earth’.  The hymn’s presentation of the central truths of the...