Hymn singing is a wonderful way for people of all backgrounds, regardless of faith, regardless of any particular musical ability, to join together in worship and in song. It’s very often the text, rather than the tune to which it is set that has ensured a hymn’s lasting popularity. Indeed some of these texts, though conceived for collective worship, are very often taken up for individual private prayer.
The whole tradition of hymn singing in the English-speaking world is due, in no small part, to the enormous influence of Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the younger brother of John. Charles Wesley wrote an astonishing 6000 hymns and there can be no finer example of his consummate skill than the splendid ‘Jesu, lover of my soul’.
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven
Come, thou long expected Jesus
O for a closer walk with God
Behold, the great creator makes
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
The strife is o’er
When morning gilds the skies
The Lord ascendeth up on high
Spirit of mercy, truth and love
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Give me the wings of faith
Immortal, invisible, God only wise
Jesu, lover of my soul
Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
Brian Runnett, organ
George Guest