Ausbund (First Published 1564 – Still in Use) The Ausbund is a historic Anabaptist hymnal, first compiled around 1564, making it one of the oldest Christian songbooks still in active use, particularly among Old Order Amish communities in North America. Its origins trace to the early 1530s in Passau, Bavaria, where over 50 Swiss Brethren Anabaptists, including preacher Michael Schneider and hymnist Hans Betz, were imprisoned in the Oberhaus Castle dungeon for their radical faith—adult baptism, rejection of state churches, and pacifism. Facing torture and execution under Catholic authorities, these martyrs composed 51 hymns, smuggled out as letters to sustain their persecuted brethren. Printed initially in German, the collection grew over time, with later editions adding songs from other Anabaptist writers, reaching about 137 hymns by the 1583 edition, though its exact early publication details remain murky due to underground printing presses. The Ausbund’s significance extends beyond its music to its role as a theological and cultural artifact, embodying Anabaptist resilience and spirituality. Lacking musical notation—tunes were memorized or adapted from folk melodies—it emphasizes lyrics of suffering, martyrdom, and hope, such as Schneider’s Psalm 139-inspired hymn or Betz’s reflections on persecution. Carried by Swiss and South German Anabaptists fleeing to Moravia and later by Amish immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, it became a cornerstone of worship, sung slowly in unison during services. Today, printed by the Amish in places like Lancaster County, it remains a living link to the Reformation era, its worn pages a testament to a faith forged in adversity, distinct from modern hymnals in its raw, unadorned devotion.