![]() Some of her work was recorded and then played on the radio, which helped to make her songs better known. She also appeared at some of pastor John Hedlund’s ecumenical campaign meetings. During the 1950s she and her family made a lot of singing trips, appearing at many different places during religious services and meetings. It wasn’t long before her songs gained wider distribution. However, she was soon asked to provide songs for other congregations, at youth camps, and at larger Christian gatherings. Lydia Lithell primarily wrote and composed songs for the various singing groups in her own congregation. She continued her studies in Lund and in 1954 gained her qualifications as an organist and cantor. During the 1950s Lydia Lithell felt the need to deepen and renew her creative force and she took lessons with cantors in Kumla congregation. In 1951 she instigated the forming of a girls’ choir. The latter of these groups she conducted right until the end of her life. In 1931 Lydia Lithell became the congregation choir master and two years later she set up a mandolin orchestra and a so-called string music group to play somewhat more folk-inspired spiritual songs. She wrote her first song when she was 18 years old. Further, she learned to play the guitar, the accordion and the fiddle. Lydia Lithell had learned to play the organ when she was in junior school and shortly thereafter also learned to play the piano, following the acquisition of a piano for the family home. He often sang solo at various gatherings and the songs were often his wife’s compositions. His family were in business and he shared his new wife’s interests. On gaining her school-leaving qualifications in 1926 she then worked in a bank office and as a cashier at a shoe factory until she married Daniel Lithell in 1938. Lydia Lithell was baptised into and became a member of the Baptist congregation in 1925. Lydia Lithell inherited her talent for singing and her interest in languages, as well as her interest in the free church congregation, from her parents. She is described as a colourful, open, and happy individual whose personality characterised Lydia Lithell’s childhood home. Her mother, Ida Engvall née Larsson, also had a good singing voice. He ran his own painting company and would spend his spare time helping to run the local Baptist congregation. He was a linguistically talented man who spoke several languages and could read the New Testament in Greek. She herself has recounted how her father, Gustaf Engvall, often sang whilst playing guitar or the organ. She grew up in Kumla and remained resident there throughout her life. Her spiritual songs were widely disseminated and several are still in use, particularly during funeral services. ![]() Lydia Lithell was an author and a composer.
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