A recent BBC TV programme featured the Top Ten Hymns chosen by thousands of viewers who put, How Great Thou Art at the top. Aled Jones then introduced the singing of this magnificent hymn by 6000 voices in the Royal Albert Hall. This popular hymn was written about 1885 by Rev. Carl Boberg and set to a Swedish folk melody. The hymn reached Russia where Mr and Mrs Stuart Hinds, some English missionaries, translated it into English in 1927 and published it in a hymn book in 1949.

Carl Boberg was inspired to write the hymn during a thunderstorm. Awesome flashes of fork lightning were followed by brilliant sunshine then a rainbow and the singing of birds. Totally overcome, Carl fell to his knees in humble adoration of his mighty God and expressed his feelings in poetry.

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

In another verse he wrote,

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in!
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

This final verse about the second coming of Christ, was composed by Mr and Mrs Hinds.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home – what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

It’s great to know that many thousands in Britain still enjoy hymn singing.