A personal selection of hymns
An Introduction
This selection of "Sing-along Songs of Praise" was originally a series of blog posts written during the COVID Lockdowns of 2020. It was intended to allow people to sing hymns in the safety and privacy of their own homes at a time when hymn-singing in church was not allowed (even if the church building was open!).
When hymns are sung as part of a church service, it is normally the case that the hymn books are set aside at the end of the hymn and the next part of the service continues. There is no time to sit and reflect on the meaning or the beauty of words and/or music. This collection allows you to take your time, to read, listen sing along, reflect, and to repeat a hymn again if you wish.
One of the purposes of creating this hymn collection was to introduce new hymns and new tunes (or in some cases to resurrect some neglected ones). Another purpose was to explain how or why words were chosen for hymns and to interpret some of the more obscure texts. And of course it was an opportunity to showcase some of my favourites.
There is a pretty wide selection of sources, from the Salvation Army Hymnbook to the Westminster (RC Cathedral) Hymnal; from 13th century Plainsong via Thomas Tallis, Orlando Gibbons and Henry Lawes (tune Farley Castle) in the 16-17th centuries up to the late 20th Century.
On most of the webpages you will find two or more hymns linked by the same writer of words or music or by some other theme. There are a lot of links from one webpage to another. The collection has been put together in this way to encourage exploration, and a wider understanding and enjoyment of our shared heritage of hymn singing.
It will OFTEN be the case that the tunes provided are NOT the ones that you would expect for particular hymns!
Remember that you may have to scroll down a page to find the specific hymn referred to in the following text!
Some of my particular favourites and/or recommendations (in no particular order):
Peace be to this congregation. One of Charles Wesley's hymns with a new tune by Irish musician and teacher Alison Cadden.
Blest are the pure in heart to a tune I only discovered when researching this hymn collection
In our day of thanksgiving with the inspiring tune St Catherine’s Court
The Communion hymns Soul of my Saviour...
...and Sweet Sacrament Divine.
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. A Revivalist hymn sung by Jim Reeves (and many others).
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire. And other definitions.
A request for my funeral: On the Resurrection morning to the tune Hornsey.
(on the same page) The story of a hard life from illiterate coal/steel worker to Professor of Music at Aberystwyth, who has remained famous for one tune in particular.
The hauntingly beautiful tune by Johann Crüger to Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness
Alternative tunes to For All the Saints: Stanford’s tune Engelberg or even the less well-known Saints’ Rest would make a refreshing change from Sine Nomine.
Hushed was the evening hymn (the same story of Samuel as in Here I am Lord); one of Sullivan’s best tunes that has been sadly neglected.
A couple of different takes on hymns for Harvest Festivals.
Chislehurst, a more modern tune to Charles Wesley’s Hail the day that sees him rise
Hymns about God in Nature...
...and God who made us.
And, not hymns, but songs about hymn-singing!
Here are some hymns and tunes that have endured despite having been written very quickly:
Abide with me - the tune was apparently written in 10 minutes.
My song is love unknown - the tune was apparently written over lunch (on the back of a menu).
O perfect Love - the words were apparently written in 15 minutes.
O Love that will not let me go - George Matheson lost his sight in 1862 while training for ministry in the Church of Scotland. His sister had been his carer for 20 years until she married in 1882. He wrote the words on the eve of her marriage
It is perhaps not surprising that many hymn tunes were composed by organists. Examples from the late 19th century onwards include:
Deep Harmony by Handel Parker (1857-1928) to Sweet is the work, my God and King.
Kingley Vale by Sir Hugh Percy Allen (1869-1946) to Lord, enthroned in Heavenly splendour.
Alberta by Sir William Henry Harris (1883-1973) to Lead, kindly Light.
The well-known St Botolph by Gordon Archbold Slater (1896-1979) to Jesu, the very thought of thee.
Arden by George Thomas Thalben-Ball (1896-1997) to By cool Siloam's shady rill.
(on the same page) East Acklam by by Francis Jackson 1917-2022 to God, that madest earth and heaven.
Finnian by Christopher Dearnley 1930-2000 to Thou who sentest Thine apostles.
Cross Deep by Barry Rose (born 1934) to New every morning is the love.
Redland by Malcolm Archer (born 1952) to King of glory, King of peace.
Some other 20th century tunes (used here with older hymns):
Gerard by Arthur James Bramwell Hutchings to Wherefore, O Father, we thy humble servants.
Spiritus vitae by Mary Jane Hammond to Bread of the world in mercy broken.
The supreme sacrifice by Revd Charles Harris to Lift up your hearts. (The tune was written for O valiant hearts, but these words are still in copyright.)
San Rocco by Derek Williams to Give me the wings of faith to rise.
Sharpthorne by Revd Dr Erik Routley to O thou not made with hands.
Seirkeiran by Rt Revd Edwin Owen to Spirit of mercy, truth and love.
Eastville by Kenneth Nicholson Naylor to For all thy saints, O Lord (and Coe Fen to How shall I sing that Majesty).
There are a couple of 20th century hymns you may not know by Revd Patrick Appleford who intentionally left his hymns free of copyright. However, probably the only hymn tune in this collection specifically written for guitar accompaniment was Silent Night, composed in 1818!
Some poems that were never intended to be sung were later used as hymns, often just by extracting a few stanzas. (The full texts of the poems are also provided.):
In 1827, John Keble published a series of poems entitled “The Christian Year”, from which we get Blest are the pure in heart and New every morning is the love, both provided here with delightful but possibly unfamiliar tunes.
In 1848 Mrs C F Alexander published “Hymns for Little Children” which included a series of poems expounding each line of the Apostles creed. Several of the poems became classic hymns: All things bright and beautiful, Once in royal David’s city and There is a green hill far away. (A couple more of the poems were sung as hymns in Victorian times.)
John Greenleaf Whittier published the poems “Our Master” in 1856 and “The Brewing of Soma” in 1872. The full texts are provided and you can see that he was apparently dismissive of all religious practices that did not accord with his own Quaker beliefs. (The hymns are Immortal Love forever full and Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Prolific authors, translators and composers include:
Revd Henry Williams Baker and William Henry Monk, were two of the original compilers and editors of Hymns Ancient and Modern (first published in 1861).
Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the first editors of The English Hymnal (first published in 1906), used many traditional English folk-song tunes as hymn tunes, unfortunately often displacing other perfectly good hymn tunes. You can read the original song words here. Only one (Dives and Lazarus) was based on scripture.
Dr Donald Davison was the Musical Editor of the 5th edition of Church Hymnal (the Church of Ireland Hymnbook - first published in 1889). In this collection are two of his tunes and many of his arrangements/descants.
Revd John Bacchus Dykes – eight of his tunes included.
Orlando Gibbons – four of his tunes included.
Revd John Newton five of his hymns including Amazing Grace (but NOT that tune).
Revd John Mason Neale, author and translator - nine of his works.
Ten tunes by Sir John Stainer.