Hymn are one of the most common aspects of a Christian funeral. If you are planning a funeral and have a particular hymn with great meaning for you or the deceased, you can still include it as part of the service without needing to have a particularly traditional religious ceremony. Talk with your funeral director to choose to what you want to include in the service. For more information on Billericay Funeral Directors, visit a site like https://www.bennettsfunerals.co.uk/essex/funeral-directors-billericay/
Here are some of the most popular funeral hymns:
- Abide With Me
This hymn is a popular choice across various denominations. It was originally penned by a Scottish Anglican named Lyte and can often be heard at military funerals across the globe, including at sports events and state funerals. The lyrics are taken from Bible verses Luke and Corinthians.
- Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven
A popular funeral hymn, Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven was also written by Lyte, who also wrote Abide With Me. As the name suggests, the spirit of this hymn is the joy of believing in God, which is often used for a variety of occasions, such as weddings, weekly worship services as well as funerals.
- Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
This Christian song is also sometimes called the Bread of Heaven and is set to the Welsh tune Cwm Rhondda. Lyrics were written by William Williams in the 1700s. It is a popular hymn for many different occasions and sometimes sung as the ‘Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.’
- Jesus Lover Of My Soul
Written in the 1700s by C. Michael Hawn, this hymn’s message is about faith in the love and wisdom of Jesus. The story behind the song is that it was inspired when Hawn and his brother were evicted from where they preached by an angry mob and forced to hide from them.
- Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace
This is a beautiful hymn that was adapted from the Prayer of Saint Francis, also known as the Prayer of Peace. Famous worldwide, the song is played by various military regiments and was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana as a tribute.
- Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us
This is a traditional Christian hymn that asks for the guidance and protection of God in times of trouble and despair, making it a popular choice for a funeral hymn. The words were written in the 19th century by James Edmeston, who wrote almost 2,000 hymns throughout the course of his life.
- Amazing Grace
An 18th Century famous hymn written by an Anglican clergyman named John Newton, Amazing Grace is well known by Christians and non-Christians alike. The song has been performed and recorded by countless musicians, including Aretha and Elvis Presley.
- The Lord’s My Shepherd
Based on Psalm 23, The Lord’s My Shepherd is known to both the church faithful and the non-religious, and especially with regards to funeral services. There are a few varying versions of the hymn, with words that contain an uplifting message of peace and comfort.