Hymns on Sunday

You might think the life of a 19^th century hymn translator was pretty uneventful. Not so for John Mason Neale, who translated our first hymn in this week’s programme, Christ is made the sure… Read more Audio

Celebrating the season of Matariki this week, with hymns in te reo Māori and hymns of remembrance. And we mark the Feast of St Paul. Read more Audio

Two hymns inspired by Psalm 23 ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ in this week’s programme. Both from the 1800s, one is by a British professor of music, John Goss, the other is by Joseph Gilmore, an American… Read more Audio

Methodist leader John Wesley had some good tips for singing hymns, including this one: "Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your… Read more Audio

The New Zealand Youth Choir features in this week’s programme, singing Wairua tapu (a hymn to the Holy Spirit by Ngapo Wehi) and the African-American spiritual Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Read more Audio

Psalm 23 The Lord's My Shepherd has been set to many different tunes. John Campbell, a 19th century Scottish merchant and amateur musician, wrote the very cheerful setting you can hear in today's… Read more Audio

Celebrating Trinity Sunday this week with a selection of hymns including Holy, Holy, Holy and Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us. And we mark the start of Samoan Language Week with a hymn of praise and… Read more Audio

Hymns for the Feast of Pentecost today, including contemporary hymns by NZ hymn writer Bill Wallace (Wild wind of the Holy Spirit) and the UK's Bernadette Farrell (Spirit of God, rest on your people).

Hymns with the theme of mercy feature in this week's programme, and there are some hymns to Mary to mark Mother's Day. Read more Audio

Hymns from the 12th century to the 20th this week, including Jesu, the very thought of thee (based on a poem by Bernard of Clairvaux) and NZ hymn writer Colin Gibson’s He came singing love. Read more Audio

A great rendition of William Kethe's hymn All people that on earth do dwell begins this week's programme. You can also hear harvest hymns, and hymns of thanksgiving. Read more Audio

Looking ahead to ANZAC Day this week, with hymns including Abide with me and Shirley Murray’s Honour the dead. Read more Audio