What's In a Hymn?

It is very easy simply to sing hymns without thinking about the origins of the words and the music. An interesting pastime is to go away and research a little about the hymns we sing in Church. Traditionally Catholics did not sing hymns in Church — not really until the end of the nineteenth century and even then very seldom. When they did there would rarely be hymns from non-Catholic sources. No so today. Our final hymn today is a great finishing hymn 'All my hope on God is founded'. It is really a collaboration between three men. Two wrote the words and one added the music.

  Joachim Neander                         Robert Bridges

Joachim Neander wrote this hymn and sixty more. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and was strongly influenced by Philip Spenser, the founder of Pietism. A rambunctious sort in his youth, he became involved in ministry in his 20s, but died at age 30 of tuberculosis. However, his hymns, particularly this one and the more famous "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation" have inspired Christian worship for more than three centuries (Neander died in 1680).

This hymn calls us to trust God rather than "mortal pride" or "earthly glory." It reminds us that "sword and crown betray our trust." It calls us to praise the one whose "great goodness e'er endureth." Robert Bridges (Poet Laureate) translated the hymn into English. The Tune 'Michael' was named after Herbert Howells' son who died aged 9 from spinal meningitis. He wrote it over breakfast one morning.

Herbert Howells

Here is a recording of this hymn performed at Westminster abbey during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.