moonchild, I heard you and harpgirl sing on HearMe and thought the harmony was absolutely gorgeous. I understand your unfamiliarity with gospel songs -- I spent some time in Alabama and was constantly surprised at all the wonderful old gospel songs that everyone around me knew, but that I had never heard of!

You asked for some close harmony songs...
Whispering Hope (probably the quintessential close harmony song, though a bit too sugary for my taste)
Alleluia (has a nice descant-type harmony)
We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder (children's campfire song, but nice harmony)
Gather Ye Who Now Would Worship (Holy Manna) Some arrangements have a descant totally different from the melody)

And by all means check out the Southern Harmony link I picked up from Okiemockbird. I think I read recently (probably here in the forum) that Southern hymns usually have the harmony above the melody. Is that what you mean by counterpoint?

Mary