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The Best Church Hymns

The Best Church Hymns

by Louis Fitzgerald BENSON (1855 - 1930)

This 1898 book is the result of a survey of 107 hymn-books. The thirty-two hymns are ranked in order of popularity. The texts in this recording are said only, not sung, along with a few explanatory notes for each hymn (some footnotes, not all, here recorded). The texts are preceded by two essays concerning hymns and their standards. Benson (1855-1930) was an American Presbyterian minister who edited several hymnals. - Summary by David Wales


1 – Rock of ages, cleft for me; 2 – When I survey the wondrous cross; 3 – Jesus, lover of my soul.

10 – Jerusalem, my happy home; 11 – How sweet the name of Jesus sounds; 12 – Nearer, my God, to thee.

13 – From Greenland’s icy mountains; 14 – Our God, our help in ages past; 15 – Jerusalem the golden

16 – Lo, he comes with clouds descending; 17 – Jesus shall reign where’er the sun; 18 – Glorious things of thee are spoken.

19 – Hark, the glad sound, the Saviour comes; 20 – Come, let us join our cheerful songs; 21 – All hail the power of Jesus’ name.

22 – Hail to the Lord’s anointed; 23 – O worship the King all glorious above; 24 – Christ the Lord is risen today.

25 – Guide me, O thou great Jehovah; 26 – Just as I am, without one plea; 27 – God moves in a mysterious way.

28 – Jesus, the very thought of thee; 29 – Children of the heavenly King; 30 – There is a land of pure delight.

31 – Thou, whose almighty word; 32 – Brief life is here our portion.

4- All praise to thee, my God this night; 5 – Jesus, I my cross have taken; 6 – Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear.

7 – Awake, my soul, and with the sun; 8 – Hark the herald angels sing; 9 – Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.

Introduction 1: What Are The Best Hymns?

Introduction 2: What Is Today The Standard Of The Best Church Hymns?

Preface