I am not sure, though most churches used hand clapping and foot stomping for their rhythms.
Not really, it was known for it's hand clapping, foot stomping and a cappella singing though!
I'm not very religious so I don't know a lot about gospel music, can you tell me anything about that style? I can! It's known for its dominant vocals and often strong use of harmony, and for having Christian lyrics. That does sound powerful just reading about it, does it have a long history? The first use of "gospel song" likely arrived in 1874. Oh I would imagine it's probably older than that given the history of churches I guess. Are there any famous gospel artists I should know about? I am not aware of any, but I know some more history; the music goes back to the early 17th century and has roots in black oral tradition. Oh cool, did it have a different name back then?
Most of the churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment.