Hymns

In this week’s programme we’re marking the First Sunday in Lent, there’s a hymn written for Human Rights Day, and we get an insight into how American minister Robert Lowry wrote his hymns. Audio

There’s a reflective feel to this week’s selection of listener requests, with hymns including There is a balm in Gilead, Nearer my God to thee, and Margaret Rizza’s Prayer for Peace. Audio

It's all about descants today - those soaring vocal lines above the melody that are often sung on the final verse of hymns. Audio

There are sea-related hymns in this week’s programme of requests, including Eternal Father, strong to save (also known as ‘the Navy Hymn’) and Will your anchor hold in the storms of life. Audio

A memory of the Pope's visit to Cardiff in the 1980s, a favourite hymn from Bible Class days, and a dedication to a beloved grandfather: some of the inspirations behind this week's hymn requests. Audio

A gentle start to this week's hymn requests programme, with an arrangement of Eleanor Farjeon's Morning has broken sung by the Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne. Audio

One of the earliest surviving Christian hymns, a hymn to mark Epiphany, and St Francis of Assisi’s hymn All creatures of our God and king – all in this week’s programme of Summer Hymn Requests. Audio

Summer Hymn Requests begin today: for the next month or so, we’ll be playing your choices. Today’s programme includes Our life has its seasons by Shirley Murray, Charles Wesley’s hymn And can it be… Audio

A special edition of Hymns of Sunday for Christmas Day. Sing along to favourite carols including o come, all ye faithful, Angels we have heard on high, and Joy to the world. Video, Audio

Rejoice - it's Gaudete Sunday! Hymns for the Third Sunday in Advent include John Rutter's Angels' Carol, Rejoice! Rejoice at Christmas time by New Zealand hymn writer Bill Wallace and Tell out, my… Audio

In this week’s programme for the Second Sunday of Advent, we look towards Christmas with a carol by Shirley Murray and Jillian Bray; there’s an atmospheric recording in Westminster Abbey of Let all… Audio

This traditional hymn was recorded by the congregation of the Cook Islands Christian Church, Porirua, in December 2023. Audio

We're celebrating the First Sunday of Advent today with some favourite Advent hymns including O Come Emmanuel, and Of the Father's Heart Begotten. Audio

It's Christ the King Sunday, and we're also marking feast days for Saints Clement and Cecilia, and hymn writer Isaac Watts. Audio

In 2017, Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor. It's a Sunday set aside in the Catholic liturgical calendar to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel. This year's theme… Audio

Hymns of reassurance, comfort and hope in this week's programme, including Christ is made the sure foundation, Shirley Murray's Hope is our song and the Boys' Brigade favourite Will your anchor hold.

Celebrating the Feast of All Saints this week, with hymns including For all the saints and Let saints on earth in concert sing. Audio

Margaret Rizza’s Prayer for Peace features in this week’s programme: Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace, let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe: peace, peace, peace. Audio

It's World Mission Sunday. This special day in the Catholic liturgical calendar was created by Pope Pius XI in the mid-1920s as a day of prayer for missions. This year’s theme, chosen by the current… Audio

In the days when bills came in envelopes through the letterbox, a young musician from Northern Ireland used the back of an electricity bill to write down some melody ideas. In this week’s programme… Audio