The tempo of a hymn should slow enough that the shortening of the value of the last note of each sung phrase by half, without altering the flow of the hymn with a pause, provides time for adequate breath without distorting the rhythmic pulse.
The pause/breath issue is one of those things that requires skill, training, and sensitivity.
I know many who pause consistently too long, and others not ever enough. You can not explain it. You cannot conduct it. They just have to KNOW what they are doing.
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