There’s a reason these hymns have lasted a long time, we live in a time when there’s new worship music out all the time, but move on even 5 years, let alone decades, and which ones are you still singing? There’s a whole tonne of modern hymns coming out which are also great, but these below truly have stood the test of time.
I’ve tried wherever possible to find congregational versions rather than performances, because worship is not about a performance, it’s every person individually, coming together to make the most beautiful and powerful sound! (And that doesn’t even have to be tuneful!)
How great Thou art
Favourite bit:
And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die – I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Thine be the glory
Favourite bit:
For our Lord now liveth
Death has lost it’s sting!Thine is the glory, risen conqu’ring Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won.
And can it be
Favourite bit:
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Amazing Grace
I couldn’t find a traditional version of this on YouTube that I liked, and I know my Dad really hates it when people take old hymns and “think they can do better by adding a bit in”, but I do like this, so excuse the modernisation for this post!
Favourite bit:
When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.
To God be the glory
Same with this one, although actually I’ve always prefered the modernised version here. The words are still there, the same meaning and depth to them, but a slightly less “twee” tune!
Favourite bit:
The vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
A couple of others that just missed the cut:
- Be Thou my vision – (a slightly modernised version here)
- Great is Thy faithfulness
- Love divine
What are your favourite traditional hymns?
ineke.co.uk 