A Brief History of Hymns
For almost two thousand years, Christians have used music as a way to worship. In the Bible the Apostle Paul writes: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”
The word “hymn” comes from the Greek word “hymnos” which means “a song of praise”. Originally these would have been written in honour of the Gods. Hymnody (the singing or composition of hymns) has evolved and changed over the centuries and been affected by new thinking and developing religious beliefs: throughout the history of the church, whenever there has been renewal, revival or restoration, new songs of worship have appeared.
During the Middle Ages hymnody developed in the form of Gregorian chant or ‘plainsong’. It was sung in Latin and most often by monastic choirs. But in the 16th century, church goers were given much greater access to hymns as a result of the invention of the printing press and the influential German theologian, Martin Luther, who began encouraging people to sing together in congregations.
In England the non-conformist minister Isaac Watts (1674-1748) began a transformation of congregational singing. Watts believed strongly that hymns should express the religious feelings of the people and he became a prolific writer, creating hundreds of new hymns. Watts has been described as “the liberator of English hymnody” as his hymns moved people away from simply singing Old Testament psalms, inspiring people to sing from the heart, with great faith and understanding.
In the same period, another significant movement affected the hymns of the church: the Methodist movement, led by John Wesley. Wesley and especially his brother Charles used simple rhythms and sing-able melodies to help congregational singing. They wrote many of our most well-known hymns that are still very popular today.
In the late 19th Century a new style of hymnody known as “gospel” emerged. These songs were usually characterised by a strong lead vocal and exciting harmonies, and were a great influence on later contemporary worship worldwide.
The twentieth and twenty first centuries have seen an explosion of new hymn writers and approaches. Old texts have been refreshed by new tunes and lots more contemporary hymns have sprung up. In the non-traditional church movement there has been a move away from the previous style of congregational singing to worship led by one singer or a worship band. Instrumentation has become more popular and musical styles have become much freer. The church today is richer than ever in musical resources and continues to bring congregations together through song.
Most popular hymns for funerals
As mentioned above hymns are traditionally sung or listened to by different denominations of Christianity. As funerals can be a religious experience, hymns can offer comfort and bring the congregation together in grief and hope.
Most Christian services include one or two hymns, depending on the length of service. At a Requiem Mass, this can be extended to three or four.
People may also want to include hymns at a non-religious funeral service for nostalgic reasons or simply for the fact they enjoy the music and its meaning.
In this blog, we will list some of the UK’s most popular hymn choices and their meaning. (In no particular order)
- How Great Thou Art – How Great Thou Art is based on a 19th century Swedish poem and set to the tune of a Swedish folk song. It is one of the most popular funeral hymns, rejoicing in the beauty of nature and the power of God.
- Jerusalm – Seen by many as England’s unofficial anthem, Jerusalem is a musical version of a poem by William Blake, written in 1804. With powerful lyrics and an uplifting melody, Jerusalem is known as one of the best funeral hymns.
- Amazing Grace – This stirring funeral hymn is often played or accompanied by bagpipes and is famous for its message of salvation and finding peace after death.
- All Things Bright and Beautiful – This Anglican hymn is often sung and celebrated by many different churches within Christianity. Another funeral hymn about celebration rather than mourning, it has remained a popular choice for funerals throughout the years.
- Abide With Me – Abide With Me is a powerful Victorian funeral hymn about asking God for comfort and help during the darkest of times. It is an ideal choice of funeral song for those grieving and needing guidance.
- The Lord Is My Shepherd (Paslm 23) – Based on Psalm 23, this well-known hymn offers a message of guidance and comfort, with a tune that even non-religious people will recognise. Like many of the other songs on this list, The Lord Is My Shepherd is an uplifting funeral hymn, more about finding guidance in grief than about the pain of grief itself.
- I Watch the Sunrise – This popular funeral hymn follows the progress of the sun in the sky throughout the day, reflecting on the passage of time and the importance of closeness to God. Many people find its message comforting during their grief.
- Morning Has Broken – Written in 1931, many will have grown up singing this hymn at school or in church. With a cheerful melody and hopeful lyrics, Morning Has Broken is not a funeral hymn about loss or grief, but about life and renewal. It’s another example of a ‘happy’ funeral hymn.
- Make Me a Channel of your Peace – This is a well known adaptation of the Prayer of Saint Francis. The prayer has been adapted a number of times, with the earliest recorded version being from 1912. The most popular version would be that of Sebastian Temple, who set the prayer to a chant-like melody. It is an anthem of the Royal British Legion as well as being a popular catholic funeral hymn.
- Old Rugged Cross – Often performed in a country and western style, Old Rugged Cross is first and foremost a song celebrating Jesus Christ and a dedication to serving God.
- Be Not Afraid – This modern Catholic funeral hymn is uplifting and joyful, focusing on finding strength in God through trying times. The lyrics encourage the person not to be afraid, because they are walking with God.
- Lord of All Hopefulness – Lord of All Hopefulness is a 20th century Christian hymn written by Jan Struther. It’s one of the UK’s favourite hymns for funerals and it’s often sung at the beginning of a service to the tune of the Irish folk song Slane.
- Love Divine – John Wesley wrote this popular funeral hymn, taking inspiration from words written by John Dryden for Act 2 of the Henry Purcell opera King Arthur.
- Going Home – This beautiful and uplifting, modern funeral hymn is adapted from Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. William Arms Fisher, a pupil of Dvorak’s, penned the lyrics to Going Home based on the second movement of the symphony.
- Morning Has Broken – “Morning Has Broken” is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and was inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune known as “Bunessan.” It is often sung in children’s services and in Funeral services.
