Difference between Hymns and Gospel Music?

[Sherman Willden]

Can someone describe the difference between hymns and gospel music? Is there a differentiation? It seems that gospel is more rhythm and blues like.

Thank you in advance;

[Erv Niehaus]

Hymns are a more formal type of music and gospel is more of a casual style.
Sometimes the distinction gets blurred, however.
The new "contemporary" music is in a different class, I'm not saying what class.

[Roger Kelly]

Here is the General Defination:
A HYMN is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word HYMN derives from Greek ὕμνος (hymnos), "a song of praise". ...

GOSPEL MUSIC is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music.

[Ford Cole]

Yet another definition--Gospel music focuses on personal pronouns of I, me, you, ect. and human feelings and emotions.
Sacred music focuses on the person of God, His attributes, accomplishments, and interaction in human affairs.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

i would have thought that Hymns were consisted of a choir & voices only whereas, gospel musik has instruments/musicians backing up the choirs or singers