{"id":39382,"date":"2024-02-13T17:19:54","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/9371b29a-8fc6-4636-8789-9e77bf293d13"},"modified":"2024-02-13T17:39:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:39:57","slug":"best-wedding-hymns-10-of-the-most-popular-for-your-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/best-wedding-hymns-10-of-the-most-popular-for-your-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Best wedding hymns: 10 of the most popular for your ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Hannah Nepilova\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 at 16:19 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Every wedding needs music, and for some of us, the most pivotal musical decisions will be the hymns we choose to include in the ceremony. Here are ten of the most rousing and popular examples.<\/p>

How many hymns should you have at a wedding?<\/h2>
A usual wedding ceremony will involve two or three hymns, with the final hymn being the most rousing and jubilant to celebrate the newlywed couple. That said, if you are keen to add more into the service, see whether you can persuade the organist or chapel’s director of music \u2013\u00a0they’re often happy to facilitate! <\/p>

Best wedding hymns<\/h2>

Jerusalem<\/strong><\/h3>
With their incendiary references to spears, arrows and chariots of fire, William Blake\u2019s Jerusalem <\/em>lyrics<\/a><\/strong> might not seem like typical wedding fare. But who can resist that tune? Along with his celebrated 1902 anthem I was Glad<\/em>, it\u2019s probably the most stirring thing Hubert Parry<\/a><\/strong> ever composed. Which is why this hymn – well-known from the Last Night of the Proms<\/a><\/strong> and widely considered to be the UK\u2019s unofficial national anthem – is one of the most popular choices for a wedding.<\/p>
<\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/whats-the-best-music-for-wedding-ceremonies\"><strong>Wedding music: the best classical music for wedding ceremonies<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-abide-with-me\"><strong>Abide with Me<\/strong><\/h3><p>Written by the Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 as he was dying from tuberculosis, <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/abide-with-me-lyrics\">Abide with Me<\/a><\/strong><\/em> was sung for the first time at his funeral. But the words, which implore God to remain present with the speaker through all the trials of life, are just as well-suited to weddings. In fact, it has been heard at two royal weddings, including that of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/classical-music.com\/articles\/queen-elizabeth-ii-music\">Queen Elizabeth II<\/a><\/strong> to Prince Philip in 1947. Although Lyte did write his own tune for the lyrics, the version we tend to sing was composed by William Henry Monk in 1861.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Abide With Me (King's College Choir, Cambridge)\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/deJDkU6qiGE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-hymns-of-all-time\"><strong>Best hymns of all time<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-all-things-bright-and-beautiful\"><strong>All Things Bright and Beautiful<\/strong><\/h3><p>It\u2019s easy to poke fun at this hymn, which many of us remember singing at school. First published in 1848 in Mrs Cecil Alexander’s Hymns for Little Children, <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/all-things-bright-and-beautiful-lyrics\">All Things Bright and Beautiful<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is very much focused on the small things in life – the \u2018tiny wings\u2019; the \u2018little flowers –\u00a0 and yes, you might call that saccharine. But small does not mean insignificant, and there is a lot to appreciate in the hymn\u2019s sense of optimism and wonder – qualities for which it has been harnessed many times as part of wedding ceremonies.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Monk: All Things Bright And Beautiful\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rRWGIF1L7eQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-school-hymns\"><strong>The best school hymns that we loved to sing<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-amazing-grace\"><strong>Amazing Grace<\/strong><\/h3><p>The text for <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/amazing-grace-lyrics\">Amazing Grace<\/a><\/strong><\/em> was written in 1779 by the English poet and cleric, John Newton, a former slave trader who found faith after a violent storm at sea. Since then this hymn has since made a particular mark on the world of folk music, not least as an iconic black spiritual.\u00a0 But its message –\u00a0 focusing on God\u2019s grace and the fact that He is with us at all times – is universally uplifting, making it a sure fire choice of hymn for weddings.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Amazing Grace | The Tabernacle Choir\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C2arm5ydeJc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/hymns-for-lent\"><strong>Hymns for Lent: our top five<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-thou-my-vision\"><strong>Be Thou My Vision<\/strong><\/h3><p>With its words based on an Irish text that is often attributed to the 6th century Saint Dall\u00e1n Forgail,\u00a0<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/what-are-the-lyrics-to-the-hymn-be-thou-my-vision\">Be Thou My Vision<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is one of the oldest hymns on our list of wedding hymns. But it wasn\u2019t until 1919 – when it was paired with the beautiful Irish folk tune \u2018Slane\u2019 – that its popularity soared. Nowadays, it\u2019s a solid go-to for weddings, serving as a heartening reminder of God\u2019s ever-presence.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"First hymn, first vows | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - The Royal Wedding - BBC\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NK5p0dunbFI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-hymns-for-thanksgiving\"><strong>Best hymns for Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-guide-me-o-thou-great-redeemer\"><strong>Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer<\/strong><\/h3><p>Written by William Williams, a leader of the 18th century Methodist revival in Wales, this rousing hymn <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/what-are-the-lyrics-to-guide-me-o-thou-great-redeemer-bread-of-heaven\">Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer<\/a><\/strong><\/em> has established itself as something of an alternative Welsh National Anthem – often belted out at rugby matches. Bringing reassurance with its reminder of a God who provides for those in need and brings us safely to heaven at the end of our lives, it is regularly used in funerals, not least that of Princess Diana in 1997. But it has also been sung at many a wedding, including that of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/royal-wedding-music-announced\">Prince William and Catherine Middleton<\/a><\/strong> in 2011, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/royal-wedding-2018-who-performing-prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-wedding\">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle<\/a><\/strong> in 2018. We named both of these as among the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/royal-weddings-best-classical-music-choices\">best classical music featured in royal weddings<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"the royal wedding- guide me O thou great redeemer\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SwvpTl88jwI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/welsh-hymns\"><strong>Welsh hymns: the most beautiful religious songs from Wales<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lord-of-the-dance\"><strong>Lord of the Dance<\/strong><\/h3><p>It\u2019s hard to find a sunnier, more lively melody than that of this hymn – with good reason: it was written by Joseph Brackett, a member of the Shaker Community,\u00a0 for whom religious worship was inseparable from dance and movement. For all its vivacity, however, the hymn – then known as \u2018Simple Gifts\u2019 – remained little known outside Shaker communities until it caught the attention of the 20th century American composer Aaron Copland. He incorporated its melody into the score of his 1944 ballet <em>Appalachian Spring<\/em>, significantly raising its stock in the process. Since then it has done sterling work on both sides of the pond, though it is most familiar in the UK from \u2018Lord of the Dance\u2019, a popular hymn choice for wedding ceremonies.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lord of the Dance \u2014 Choristers of Wells Cathedral Choir\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vRpaxb6dP7k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-easter-hymns\"><strong>Best Easter hymns: top choices to celebrate Easter<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-love-divine-all-loves-excelling\"><strong>Love Divine All Loves Excelling<\/strong><\/h3><p>Reminding us that we able to love one another because Christ loved us first, <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/lord-divine-all-loves-excelling-lyrics\">Love Divine All Loves Excelling<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is a perfect hymn for a wedding. The text – written by Charles Wesley in 1747 –\u00a0 has been amended several times by those in disagreement with its Perfectionist philosophy that one could be completely cleansed of sin in this life. The melody, similarly, tends to vary, though the one with which most of us are familiar comes from the 19th century English composer and organist Sir John Stainer.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Blaenwern, Love Divine - Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VFckP0F93JM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-advent-hymns\"><strong>Best Advent hymns and music<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-praise-my-soul-the-king-of-heaven\"><strong>Praise My Soul the King of Heaven<\/strong><\/h3><p>With its rousing melody, and equally rousing message, encouraging us to give our lives to God, <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/what-are-the-lyrics-to-praise-my-soul-the-king-of-heaven\">Praise My Soul the King of Heaven<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is just the kind of hymn to sing heartily at a wedding. John Goss, who composed it in 1868, was one of the UK\u2019s most respected organists, working at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral and as a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. But it was this tune that secured his legacy, with <em>The Musical Times <\/em>in 1869 calling “at once the most beautiful and dignified hymn tune which has lately come under our notice\u201d.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embedwrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, Praise my soul the king of heaven\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4d9RJMOP9Tw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/queens-favourite-hymns\"><strong>What were the Queen’s favourite hymns?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-lord-s-my-shepherd\"><strong>The Lord’s My Shepherd<\/strong><\/h3><p>The tune of the hymn <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/what-are-the-lyrics-to-the-hymn-lord-is-my-shepherd\">The Lord’s My Shepherd<\/a><\/strong><\/em> could so easily have slipped into obscurity, attributed as it is to Jessie Seymour Irvine – the daughter of an Aberdeenshire minister – who allegedly wrote it as an exercise for her composition class. Instead, it became one of the most famous British hymn melodies ever, sung at the Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten in 1947, and then again at the State <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/articles\/the-queen-funeral-what-music-was-played-at-the-funeral-of-queen-elizabeth-ii\">funeral of Queen Elizabeth II<\/a><\/strong> in September 2022. Meanwhile, the text – a paraphrase of Psalm 23 – tells us that good is always with us, making it an eminently suitable choice for weddings.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Lord's my shepherd\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mwDd1fTOpzs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p><strong>You can find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/tag\/famous-hymn-lyrics\/\">lyrics to famous hymns here<\/a><\/strong> <\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Hannah Nepilova Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 at 16:19 PM Every wedding needs music, and for some of us, the most pivotal musical decisions will be the hymns we choose to include in the ceremony. Here are ten of the most rousing and popular examples. How many hymns should you have at a wedding? 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Here are ten of the most rousing and popular examples. 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