Jump directly to the content
TOP
HYMNS FOR HARRY

Royal Wedding hymns – Lord Of All Hopefulness and Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer lyrics

The Royal Wedding featured some well known hymns as Harry and Meghan tied the knot

PRINCE Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle will include some classic hymns.

Here's everything you need to know about Lord Of All Hopefulness and Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer which will be sung at the ceremony...

 Jan Struther was the pen name of Joyce Anstruther who wrote Lord Of All Hopefulness
Hulton Archive - Getty
Jan Struther was the pen name of Joyce Anstruther who wrote Lord Of All Hopefulness

Who is Jan Struther who wrote Lord Of All Hopefulness?

Jan Struther was the pen name of Joyce Anstruther born in 1901 in Buckinghamshire.

She was a writer and best known for her character Mrs Miniver and several hymns, including Lord Of All Hopefulness.

Jan Struther was also the great-aunt of Ian Maxtone Graham, former co-executive producer of The Simpsons.

She died of breast cancer in New York in 1953 at the age of 52.

 Lord Of All Hopefulness was sung at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
PA:Press Association
Lord Of All Hopefulness was sung at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

What are the lyrics to Lord Of All Hopefulness?

Lord of all hopefulness,
Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like,
No cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking,
And give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
At the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled
At the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours,
And give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord,
At the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome,
Your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing,
And give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord,
At the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment,
Whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping,
And give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord,
At the end of the day.

 St George's chapel in Windsor is the setting for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding
PA:Press Association
St George's chapel in Windsor is the setting for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Who is John Hughes who wrote Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer?

John Hughes was a Welsh composer who lived from 1873-1932.

He grew up in  Llanilltud Faerdref and served as a deacon and leader of the congregational singing in Salem Baptist Chapel.

Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda in Welsh) was written in 1907 and the lyrics are taken from the William Williams' text.

He also penned the famous tune Cwm Rhondda, taken from the Welsh name for the Rhondda Valley.

What are the lyrics to Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer?

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;
Be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.