Hymns of the Saints, published in Independence, Missouri by Herald House in 1981, was the official English-language hymnal of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which became the Community of Christ in 2001), until 2013.
In the preface to the work, the committee acknowledged the influence of “changing theological concepts, the searching eye of historical research, shifting modes of expression, and increased sensitivity to the sanctity of personhood” in the preparation of the hymnal and the selection of hymns.
Aside from six hymn texts drawn directly from the psalms (Hymns 15, 66, 110, 125, 258, and 461), the earliest Christian text is attributed to Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, who lived from A.D. 348 to 413; he is credited as the original author of the text from which Hymn 220, "Of the Father’s Love Begotten", was translated by John Mason Neale and Henry W. Baker.
Among the most prolific contributors to the texts of the hymns in the book are (number of contributions are noted in parentheses) Roy Cheville (13), Geoffrey Spencer (13), Isaac Watts (12), Charles Wesley (11), Allan Tyree (10), Fred Kaan (9), Evan A. Fry (9), Naomi Russell (7), and Barbara Howard (6).
[1] Hymns of the Saints was cited as a catalyst for inspiration by Community of Christ president Stephen M. Veazey in his discussion of Doctrine and Covenants Section 163.