This article is one of several on the site which takes a closer look at some of the best wedding hyms around, including links to music samples of each and a full transcript of their lyrics.
All hyms in this article are copyright free and permission to reproduce the words in your Church Wedding Order of Service is not required.
WEDDING HYMS
PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY
PREVIEW/PURCHASE
Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the King of creations;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
All ye who hear,
Now to his temple draw near,
Joining in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shieldeth thee gently from harm, or when fainting sustaineth:
Hast thou not seen
How thy heart's wishes have been
Granted in what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee:
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If to the end he befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again:
Gladly for ay we adore him.
Hymn Lyrics: Joachim Neander (d.1680), Catherine Winkworth (d.1878) & others
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WEDDING HYMS
THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS
PREVIEW/PURCHASE
The king of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never:
Good shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever.
Hymn Lyrics: H. W. Baker (d.1877)
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WEDDING HYMS
THE LORD'S MY SHEPHERD I'LL NOT WANT
PREVIEW/PURCHASE
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill:
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
In prsence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
Hymn Lyrics: Psalm 23
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WEDDING HYMS
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE
PREVIEW/PURCHASE
To God be the glory! great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his son,
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the father through Jesus the son;
And give him the glory - great things he hath done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the son:
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
Hymn Lyrics: J. Van Alstyne (d.1915)
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WEDDING HYMS
WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
PREVIEW/PURCHASE
We plough the fields and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft, refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
For all his love.
He only is the maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey him,
By him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, his children,
He gives our daily bread.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
For all his love.
We thank thee then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
For all thy love imparts,
And what thou most desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
For all his love.
Hymn Lyrics: Matthias Claudius (d.1815)
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For lyrics and music samples of other wedding hyms, check out the links below:
All People that on Earth do Dwell
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Amazing Grace
And Can it Be That I Should Gain
And Did Those Feet In Ancient Times (Jerusalem)
For the Beauty of the Earth
Give Me Joy In My Heart (Sing Hosanna!)
I Vow To Thee My Country
Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us
Love Divine All Loves Excelling
Morning Has Broken
Praise My Soul The King of Heaven
Alternatively, if you'd like to know more about hyms as part of a Church wedding service, including how many you're allowed and when they can be played, our church wedding hymns article provides a useful overview.
Recommended Reading
For those of you wanting to find out more, we've a whole host of other articles on wedding ceremonies on our site packed full of expert information and helpful advice, not to mention our online wedding directory that's filled with venue decorators, approved wedding premises, musicians, photographers and more.
For friendly tips and helpful advice take a look at our wedding ceremonies forum, or why not check out the 'related articles' and 'pages & websites you may like' below.
