So much so, that many still believe Cat Stevens himself composed it. The same goes for the fortunes of the hymn itself, which was widely shunned initially, but, says Mr Ewington, enjoyed a renaissance in schools in the 1960s. But lately I've come to appreciate them for what they are." "Like so many of the hymns that one sang as a child, like All Things Bright and Beautiful, and were overplayed, I couldn't face it for 20 years or so. Some 50 years on, how does he rate the song? Anthony Eden was prime minister at the time and I hadn't a clue what it was about." "The line 'Born of the one light, Eden saw play' confused me. Yet in skirting around specific Christian imagery, Mr Canham confesses its obliqueness left him a little stumped as a schoolboy in the 1950s. "It's certainly not specifically Christian, echoing some sort of harmony with Judaism and Islam, I'd imagine."
Yet the ill deeds of Adam and Eve are overlooked, says Robert Canham, of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, in favour of "saying how wonderful this Creation is". With its rich imagery of rain, dewfall, sunlight, blackbirds, grass and "the wet garden", the focus of the three verses is not so much the Creation as the Garden of Eden. "He wanted a hymn about creation, but not necessarily specifically Christian," says Mr Ewington. He asked Ms Farjeon to write a poem to the melody, a Gaelic tune from the 19th Century. The words were commissioned from Farjeon - pronounced farr-jon - in 1931 by a local vicar who was compiling a new edition of the hymnbook Songs of Praise. The "morning" in question, is not a literal break of dawn - rather a reference to God's creation of the heavens and the earth, as told in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis. He does, however, warm to its words: "It's a lovely poem, but it's not a 'liturgical piece' as I would call it." "People who have a chip on their shoulder about modern hymns might say it's a bit trite." "I don't think you could compare it with something like When I Survey the Wondrous Cross or one of those Wesleyan pieces."Ī veteran of hundreds of church weddings, he says the hymn is a favourite among brides planning their big day, "along with Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee My Country.
"It's alllll right," says John Ewington, general secretary of the Guild of Church Musicians, stretching the cadence of his "approval" to imply, at best, a lukewarm endorsement. If the fortunes of the cottage were to rest solely on purists' attitudes to Farjeon's work, its future would be far from secure. Among those opposing the plans are Poet Laureate Andrew Motion. The owner of the cottage, in the pricey London suburb of Hampstead, has applied for permission to bulldoze the property to build new homes. Now it's become the focus of a campaign to save the cottage where its lyrics were penned by the late Eleanor Farjeon. A popular hymn for many different occasions.Īnglican hymn often sung and celebrated by many different churches within Christianity, it has remained a popular song for funerals throughout the years.Morning Has Broken occupies a somewhat paradoxical place in the nation's hearts - a favourite hymn for a nominally secular society. Traditional Christian hymn set to the Welsh tune of Cwm Rhondda, sometimes known as Bread of Heaven. Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer (Bread of Heaven) It is also the anthem of the Royal British Legion and was sung at Princess Diana’s funeral. Well-known adaptation of the Prayer of Saint Francis. It is often sung at military services, sporting events and state funerals. The words are uplifting, but also reverent, making this a popular hymn for funeral services.Ī traditional Christian hymn popular across denominations. How Great Thou Art is a hymn that was originally written in Swedish, but has since become one of the great Christian songs in English. Lyrics contain a hopeful message of guidance and comfort. Well-known hymn based on Psalm 23, popular with Christians and non-religious people alike. 9 with a message about finding peace in the next life. The song was made widely popular in the UK by Cat Stevens when he recorded the hymn in 1971.Ī sad and moving religious funeral song adapted from Dvorak’s Symphony No. Written in 1931, Morning Has Broken is a popular funeral hymn with uplifting and hopeful lyrics.
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