Five English Hymns

We usually sing our hymns, but they are of course, many of them, the most wonderful poetry. To show that this is so I am posting a reading I made some time ago of five of my favourite hymns. The video was made on my old computer and so is a bit shaky, but the sound is good.

When I was a boy we had hymn-singing every day in school accompanied by prayers. At my grammar school we had two assemblies, one in the morning and one before we scampered off home for the day and each assembly was for prayers and the singing of one or two hymns. In this way some of the very best poetry of our own and previous years became indelibly embedded in our minds - or in mine at least! Plus also of course the Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Version of the Holy Bible. This was to present us with some of the most profound and beautiful language ever written in English on a daily basis and in the most available form, in speech and in singing.

I expect the poor little buggers of today, if ever their minds are directed toward higher things, are done so in an altogether antiquarian manner and without any spiritual guidance on the part of teachers for the most part unbelievers. This is a great loss and an occasion for prolonged public mourning - but I suppose it is too late now to recapture the rapture of my early days.

Lots of people on YouTube rail against religion, and up to a point I am with them. But they forget that the Christian religion is much more than oppression, much more than religious wars and burnings at the stake. It is also a matter of overflowing joy, of the expression of wonder and the love that lives in us all and needs only an occasion to make it flow outward into the world. Our daily assemblies were such an occasion, and our hymns and prayers were full of beautiful language and lovely song, and one can only deeply regret their passing.

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• charles
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[medicinesocks]

Excellent reading. Excellent writing. Christianity reveres peace & love & not being judgmental. That's positive. I particularly love the first piece you read, by Isaac Watts. As a child I went to a Baptist church in Florida, and singing ecstatic hymns, backed by the chords of an old piano, comprised most of the service. Many of these hymns were by Dr. Watts, and I shall post one of them as a video response here. Quite inspiring!

[brychar66]

Time like an ever-rolling stream

bears all its sons away.

Yes, I agree, it's great, inspired language & thoughts. I learned more from these old hymns than from all the sermons in the world! Thanks, Chas.

[msbunburyist]

This, as your other videos (well - the one I've watched, and I'm certain the others) very lovely. It is wonderful to see something that is both Christian and not, well, anti-thought - I've always credited good ol' C.S. Lewis with my Christianity, for his books' influence in my childhood, and this reminds me a great deal of him - perhaps because this is the kind of thing that he would have heard in a church? In any case, we don't do this sort of songs in my church very much, which is a sad loss.

[brychar66]

Yes Lewis would definitely have sung these hymns. The great English collection was called 'Hymns Ancient & Modern' which we all sang until relatively recently. Infinitely beautiful! Thank you - Charles.

[written12]

Charles, what an inspired idea to recite these hymns as poetry. As memorable and comforting as the musical settings are, the beauty of the words can get a little dusty under the melodies. Your intro is right on. Until recently, Brits-even religiously ecletic types like you- understood the value of immersing the young in the wisdom and beauty of the Authorized Version and the BCP. It wasn't about indoctrinating kids. By the way, those assemblies were not really opposed by pious non-Christians.

[brychar66]

I daren't sing these beautiful hymns as I cry buckets! But I can manage the recitation. I only hope we can find a way in future to treasure and retain our Christian heritage in a meaningful manner.

[Aritul]

@CanadianKelley, I believe they are:

1. O God, Our Help in Ages Past (0:00-1:27)

2. Come Down, O Love Divine (1:33-2:58)

3. Breathe on me Breath of God (3:06-3:58)

4. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (4:05-5:35)

5. City of God How Broad and Far (5:39-6:58)

[CanadianKelley]

What hymn is this?

[BayAreaBiker2001]

Charles Wesley is best known for his vivid poetry which soon became hymns.

[EnglishHeroes]

Absolutely Beautiful. Thankyou.

[viking250972]

Excellent reading!

[viking250972]

Pleasant to listen to.