Sunday Morning Hymns

Originally written in Welsh, the native language of William Williams, 'Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah' has been sung around the world. It was chosen as a hymn for the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales and for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Williams’ text has provided comfort over many generations with its sense of God’s guidance through strife. The text is included, so please add your voice and sing along.

It is thought that Augustus Toplady found the inspiration for this hymn when traveling in the gorge of Burrington Combe. Caught in a storm, he found shelter in a gap in the rock face of the gorge. Whether or not the story is accurate, the rock is marked as the “Rock of Ages.” Toplady’s text is included, so please add your voice and sing along.

The heart of Charlotte Elliott, in the words of her brother, “always tended to express its depth in verse.” Following a night of spiritual conflict, she wrote this beloved hymn in response, finding comfort as she recalled the Gospel of pardon and peace. Just As I Am is well known as an altar call hymn used at Billy Graham crusades in the latter half of the 20th century. Graham was converted to Christianity in 1934 when hearing the hymn as an altar call. The text is included, so please add your voice and sing along.

Mary Lathbury’s two best known hymns are Break Thou the Bread of Life and Day Is Dying in the West. She wrote both at the request of Bishop John Vincent for use in the services of the Chautauqua Assembly. Her work as a hymn writer and editor of children’s books earned her the title “Poet Laureate of Chautauqua.” Lathbury’s two stanzas were published in Chautauqua Carols in 1877. Alexander Groves added stanzas 3 and 4 in 1913. The text for all four stanzas is included so please add your voice and sing along.

Growing up, during Sunday evening services the church my family attended would sometimes have folks in the congregation call out the number of a hymn they wanted to sing. When I had a chance, I would ask for 353, When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder. I was too young to understand words like “eschatology,” but I did like the idea of going to be with Jesus someday. James Milton Black was a Sunday school teacher as well as a musician and hymn writer, and he found the inspiration for this hymn in the absence of a child from his Sunday school class. After visiting the child’s home and calling on a doctor to treat her for pneumonia, Black went home and wrote the hymn. The text is included, so please answer “present” by singing along.

This Is My Father’s World, a poem by Maltbie Davenport Babcock, was published shortly after his death in 1901 by his wife, Katherine. Babcock, a Presbyterian minister and prolific poet, took frequent walks and would tell Katherine, “I’m going out to see the Father’s world.” Franklin Sheppard set select verses of Babcock’s poem to music in 1915. His tune, TERRA BEATA, is still used to sing the hymn today. The text is included so please add your voice and sing along.

John Hart Stockton was pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also composed tunes and wrote hymns. He wrote Come Every Soul By Sin Oppressed shortly after withdrawing from pastoral work in 1874 to compile and publish gospel hymn books. The hymn owes is recognition to the revivals of Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey, a stirring invitation hymn being part of the revival experience. The text is included here so you can add your voice and sing along.

Frances Ridley Havergal struggled with frail health, living only 43 years, but she was a woman of powerful intellect as well as a singer and pianist of note. She learned several modern languages as well as Hebrew and Greek. She attempted to live her life fully consecrated to Christ and to those in need. She composed this hymn of total consecration, with each line beginning with “Take my,” seeming to cover every aspect of surrender. The text is included, so you can join the prayer and sing along.

Will L. Thompson composed Softly and Tenderly in 1880, and it is probably the most widely known of his compositions. Thompson was a member of the Churches of Christ, which may well contribute to the beautiful vocal harmony that accompanies the hymn. The text for the hymn is included, so please add your voice and sing along.

Ernest William Blandly was a British minister who became a Salvation Army officer after immigrating to the United States with his wife, Eliza, in 1884. Blandly wrote Where He Leads Me I Will Follow after choosing between a comfortable post at an established church and an alternate assignment to the New York City waterfront and slum called Hell's Kitchen. He chose the latter. Where He Leads Me became popular as an invitation hymn during 20th century revivals. The text is included, so please add your voice and sing along.