Christopher N. Ederesinghe
1934
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Christopher Ederesinghe, a Seventh-day Adventist minister and author of
Singing as We Journey, has done extensive research on the history and
background of hymns. He has also presented workshops within the context of
congregational hymn festivals in a number of churches. He focuses on finding
ways to make both the private and public singing of hymns a more meaningful
experience.
Ederesinghe was interested in music from his
earliest years. His parents encouraged him, and he started piano lessons at age
five. When he was preparing for the ministry at Spicer Memorial College in
India, he was encouraged by his teachers to pursue his interest in hymns. He
subsequently developed a series of presentations based on specific hymns and
their stories while serving as a minister in South America.
While doing graduate study at
Andrews University, where he completed an M.A in 1975, an
M.Div. in 1978, and a D.Min. in
1987, Ederesinghe was encouraged by C. Warren Becker,
Kenneth Strand, and C. Mervyn Maxwell to continue his
work in this area. His M.Div. dissertation was titled, Rationale and
Suggested Program for Workshop on Congregational Singing for Use in Local
Church or District. Singing as We Journey, released in 2002,
contains information about the authors and composers of, as well as commentary
about, selected hymns.
ds/2013
Source: Singing
as We Journey, 2002, Morris Publishing, Kearney, Nebraska; Andrews
University Alumni Directory 2003 and AU Alumni Today, 2012.