Hmmm. And if my memory serves me correctly, weren't many of the great hymns of yesteryear (which are still great and I love them) originally based on pub songs? Didn't they take popular "jingles" and put good lyrics to them? I think there is a place for traditional and contemporary in all churches (even both during the same service even, wow!) :-)
This is true. The words were set to melodies everyone was already familiar with.
The Salvation Army was particularly noted for writing Christian words to secular tunes. "Why should the Devil have all the good music?" is attributed to General William Booth. ("Good" in the sense of popular with the common listener, not necessarily an aesthetic judgment :-)