Christopher N. Ederesinghe

1934 -

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.