Above: Willa Johnson follows along in her hymn book inside the “audience room” of the former Christian Union Church, located on the second floor of the Portsmouth Historical Society’s headquarters. Photo by Jim McGaw.

PORTSMOUTH — “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on.”

As a few dozen participants in Sunday’s old-fashioned hymn sing at the Portsmouth Historical Society finished belting out “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Society member Gloria Schmidt reminded visiting director Gerald Dyck of the author’s local roots.

The prominent abolitionist and social activist Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), after all, had a summer home in Portsmouth just further up Union Street. She also preached at the former Christian Union Church, where the hymn sing took place.

“Had I known that, I would have sung it with more reverence,” replied Mr. Dyck, the musical director of the New Bedford Choral Society who accompanied the singers.

The hymn sing, organized by Anne Wagner, was part of the Society’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the former Christian Union Church, housed on the second floor of the Society. The church hasn’t been used as a place of worship for more than 70 years, but is still the site for Society meetings, lectures and other events.

The current exhibit, “This Old Church,” can be viewed from 2-4 p.m. on Sundays through Columbus Day weekend at the museum, located at the corner of East Main Road and Union Street.

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