Origins of landmark hymn book identified

Mike Sanders, from The University of Manchester, says the now obscure South Lancashire Delegate Meeting almost certainly compiled the landmark 'National Chartist Hymn Book' found in Todmorden public library two years ago. After two years of detective work, the expert in Victorian literature has published an article in the international journal Victorian Studies this month detailing what he has learned about the book. Sanders' research uncovered calls for contributions for a new Chartist hymn book in the Chartist newspaper the Northern Star. One, from January 1845, asked for readers to send ideas for a Chartist hymn book to an address in Manchester. A second item in February stated that West Riding Chartists approved the idea of producing a new hymn book. Helping confirm the origin of the find, another item was published in September saying the book, containing 16 hymns, was now available. Sanders said: "The Chartists were Christians, but radical Christians who fought for justice in this life not the next.