Church Music...

Traditionally Old and Stale

There is something wrong if it is not fitting to the culture or if it is done in the old traditional way just because someone thinks that is the only way to do music. If it is a new work then no one should know any music, so you have the chance to escape the trap of traditionalism.

 

It depends on your context. If you live in a very traditional area with a cultural emphasis on church attendance, the majority will likely have knowledge of traditional hymns.

If you're in an area without much church exposure or full of younger individuals, the more traditional music might not be familiar to them.

Allow me to add:

There is nothing stale about some traditional music. Some "traditional" songs are just plain bad, whether in tone, in theology, or in lyrical expressiveness. The good songs will have a timeless quality to them. "Holy, Holy, Holy" is an old song but a very good one. "It is Well with My Soul" is another excellent traditional song (albeit not as old as the previous one).