What would be some notable examples of their musical contemporaries writing hymn tunes expressly for congregational singing? Or maybe more specifically, did any of his musical contemporaries write hymn tunes for the hymns the Wesleys were writing?

yes several did john frederick lampa was a bassoonist in the orchestra for handel's operas and oratorios and he was well acquainted with mrs rich and one night he converted to methodism after talking with john wesley and he is known as the first great methodist composer and he wrote 24 hymn tunes specifically for charles wesley's hymns The Wesleys encouraged the Methodist societies to use his tunes congregationally.

Thomas Arne was another composer who also wrote hymn tunes, and he did publish actually several of Lampa's works following Lampa's death.

Another one is Jonathan Battis Hill.

He was a conductor, singer, and church organist, and he composed theater music, anthems, glies, songs, and one opera.

He set 12 of Charles's hymns to tunes.

His tunes, however, were highly ornamented, presumably for a trained singer with figured bass accompaniment.

So how do hymns and hymn tunes currently play a part in your work as a singer and teacher today?