leader sings the very first line, and the congregation joins in when they recognize the song. After that, the song proceeds line by line: the leader briefly chants a line alone, and then the group repeats the words but to a tune that is much longer and more elaborate than the leader's chant or lining tune." E. D. Thomas' Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1877) and Edward W. Billups' The Sweet Songster (1854) are two of several "words-only" hymn books preferred by these churches. The practice of lining out psalms and hymns was once common across Britain and America. In the British Isles, but the only remaining vestige of the tradition can be found in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, where it is done in Gaelic. Current status The strength of Old Regular Baptists is in Appalachia, particularly along the Kentucky and Virginia border, although Old Regular Baptist churches exist as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida, and several churches still exist in the state of Washington. Currently, there are eight local associations in the New Salem correspondence, New Salem, Northern New Salem, Old Friendship, Old Indian Bottom, Philadelphia, Sardis, Union. The Indian Bottom, Sovereign Grace, Mountain #1 and Mountain #2 Friendship, Bethel are Independent bodies no longer associated with the New Salem cluster. These 14 associations and independent churches (not lettered to an association) contain over 350 churches with over 6,000 members. The folk singer Jean Ritchie was a member of the Old Regular Baptists in Kentucky. Citations External links Appalachian Music Historical Sketch Indian Bottom Association of Old Regular Baptists Information on Lined-Out Hymnody Old Regular Baptist Research - ASU Sovereign Grace Association of Old Regular Baptist Old Regular Baptist Association History A Conjoining of Ancient Song "Public Enemies - Guide Me O thou Great Jehovah" "Celebrating Congregational Line Singing" Berea College - Lined Out Hymnody Christianity in Appalachia Religion in the Southern United States Religious organizations established in 1825 Baptist denominations in North America 1825 establishments in the United States