St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
The Top Ten Hymns
           
2014


A poll of favourite hymns was held in the cathedral at the beginning of 2014  and the "top ten" were sung at a very well attended special evening service on Sunday 16th February. We were pleased to see a number of visitors from other churches - all very keen to know the results of the voting! The congregational singing was recorded and reproduced here. The organist was Glenn Moore and the choir mistress was Jayne Haslett.

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Number 10: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven

Words: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Music: John Goss (1800-1880)
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him, Praise Him, praise Him
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him, Praise Him, praise Him
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Father-like He tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise Him, Praise Him, praise Him
Widely as His mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore Him,
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him;
Dwellers all in time and space,
Praise Him, praise Him, Praise Him, praise Him
Praise with us the God of grace.

Number 9: How Deep the Father's Love for Us
Words and Music: Stuart Townend
Copyright © 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music, PO Box 75, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6NW, UK


How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Number 8: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

Words: John G. Whittier (1807-1892)
Music: C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1919)

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still small voice of calm.

Number 7: Amazing Grace

Words: John Newton (1725-1807)
Music: Popular variant of an early North American folk
            melody (possibly of Scottish origin)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace has brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

Number 6: Nearer, My God, to Thee

Words: Sarah Adams (1805-1848)
Music: "Excelsior (Bethany)" - used in this recording,
is by Lowell Mason  (1792-1872)
An alternative tune "Horbury", by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) was featured in the 1958 film about the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, "A Night to Remember".
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Then with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Number 5: Abide with Me

Words: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Music: William Henry Monk (1823-1889)

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Number 4: I the Lord of Sea and Sky

Words and music by David Schutte.
Copyright
© 1981 D.L. Schutte and New Dawn Music , PO Box 13248, Portland OR 97213 USA

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.


I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.


I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
Number 3: How Great Thou Art

Words: Carl Boberg (1859-1940) - translated from
              Russian by Stuart K. Kine(1899-1989)
Music: A Swedish folk melody.

Copyright © 1953 Stuart K. Kine/Kingsway's Thankyou Music, PO Box 75, Eastbourne, East Sussex,
BN23 6NW, UK


O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


Refrain

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

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!"

Refrain

Number 2: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Words: William Williams (1717-1791)
Music: (Cwm Rhondda) John Hughes (1873-1932)

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me now and evermore;
Feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

Number 1: Be Thou My Vision

Words: Early Irish - translated by Mary Byrne (1880-1931) and versified by Eleanor Hull (1860-1935)
Music: Irish traditional melody
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I thy true heir;
Thou in me dwelling, and I in Thy care.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my armour, and be thou my might;
Thou my soul's shelter and Thou my high tower:
Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise:
Thou mine inheritance through all my days;
Thou and Thou only, the first in my heart;
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art!

High King of heaven, when the battle is done,
Grant heaven's joy to me, O bright heaven's sun;
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

And here are the top 30 hymns: