[4] "Breaking bread" is mentioned 21 times in the Christian Bible:[5] In the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, written by United Methodist Hymnal editor, Dr. Carlton Young, suggests that this "spiritual was formed in the West African Gullah/Geechee slave culture that developed in the costal areas of South-Eastern colonial America, including St Helena Island, Beaufort, and Charleston, South Carolina ..."[2][6] American slaves could communicate the intention of escaping by singing "Let us break bread together"[7][8][9] It is a hymn of the Underground Railroad.
[10] The hymn is common in holy communion services, reminding us of our spiritual food and drink presented through the bread and wine.
The hymn or spiritual is popular among young people, as on acoustic guitar it is easy to accompany.
This is clearly shown by its inclusion in many hymn books and albums such as the late 1970s The Old Rugged Cross by the respected gospel singer George Beverly Shea.
It was not included in the second edition of the hymnal, however, and in 2020 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops questioned the song's theology and recommended it not be used.