Fred Kaan, author of For the Healing of the Nations, Now Let Us From this Table Rise, and a plethora of other 20th century hymns died on Oct. 4 in England at the age of 80. Dutch-born Kaan was a minister in Britain’s United Reformed Church and penned lyrics for more than 200 hymns, many of which are included in the Presbyterian Book of Praise. Kaan had worked for the World Council of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and was deeply concerned about peace and social justice – themes that were often at the heart of his hymns. – with files from the Christian Century and Stainer & Bell
