 At this time, the term "gospel songs" referred to evangelical hymns sung by Protestant (Congregational and Methodist) Christians, especially those with a missionary theme.Gospel composers included writers like Ira D. Sankey and Mason Lowry, and Charles B. Tindell.Hymns, Protestant gospel songs, and spirituals make up the basic source of modern black gospel

What most African Americans would identify today as "gospel" began in the early 20th century.