by Norene Morrow
With Lent now upon us, you may have noticed that the music at your church reflects a more sober, meditative, and prayerful tone. In the past, I have related many hymns stories about the carols of Advent and Christmas, so in keeping with this season, I have decided that it is time to give some of our favourite Lent and Holy Week hymns equal time.
Forty Days and Forty Nights is one of those hymns that is either well loved or detested. I have often been met with groans when it appears on our music schedule, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be Lent without it. The minor tonality, pedantic rhythm and scriptural reference to the temptation of Christ, leaves no question that we have entered this penitential season. George Hunt Smyttan wrote and submitted it as "Poetry for Lent" to The Penny Post, under the initials G.H.S. in 1856. Smyttan was ordained in 1848 and was Rector of Hawksworth, Nottinghamshire for nine years. He died suddenly in Frankfurt am Main and, because he was unknown, was interred in a pauper's grave.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is a hymn whose origin is probably more legend than fact. The story goes that one Sunday afternoon, a young Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was complaining about the deplorable hymns that were sung at church, so his father challenged him by saying, "I'd like to see you write something better!" At this, the young man retired to his room and appeared several hours later with his first hymn. It was enthusiastically received at the Sunday evening service the same night. Whether or not this is true, there is no denying that Isaac Watts has rightfully earned the title, "The Father of English Hymnody," having over 600 hymns to his credit.
There is a Green Hill Far Away is one of the many poems written by Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, an Irish woman who was one of the finest women poets of her time. She is best known for her collection of children’s hymns, which she used as a teaching tool on various doctrinal subjects such as the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostle's Creed. ("Once in Royal David’s City" is one of those hymns.) This particular hymn was written for her Sunday school class to explain the meaning of the phrase from the Apostle's Creed — "suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried."
One of my favourite hymns for Holy Week is My Song is Love Unknown, which is based upon accounts of the Passion, particularly in Matthew 27. It was written by Samuel Crossman (1624-1683) and set to music by John Ireland (1879-1962). Crossman had a non-conformist background until 1665. In 1682 he became the treasurer of Bristol Cathedral, and one year later he was appointed Dean, but died shortly after. Apparently, he was a better hymnodist than financier, for at his death, it is reported that the chancellor stated, "Mr. Crossman, our new Dean died this morning; a man lamented by few of either city or neighbourhood. He hath left a debt upon our church of 300 pounds."
Two hymns that are not restricted to being sung only in Lent include "Amazing Grace" and "How Great thou Art."
John Newton, who worked as a seaman in the slave trade for many years, wrote Amazing Grace. After surviving a catastrophic storm at sea in 1748, he vowed that he would change his life, and left the slave trade to work as a tide surveyor. Following that, Newton was ordained as a curate in the Church of England. In 1788 he helped William Wilberforce in the great movement to abolish slavery by publishing his own experiences in the slave trade. (This was depicted in the recent film, "Amazing Grace.") Some of Newton's other well-known hymns include "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" and "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."
Did you know that How Great Thou Art is a Swedish hymn? Carl Boberg wrote it, who among other things, worked as the editor of a Christian newspaper and served in the Swedish parliament for twenty years. "O Store Gud," as it was originally known, came about in 1885 when Boberg was listening to the church bells on his way home from services. A sudden storm came up then subsided into a peaceful calm almost as quickly as it came. Following this awe-inspiring experience Boberg penned his poem. It was soon matched to a tune and migrated to various countries, where it was immediately translated and became the popular and beloved hymn enjoyed by many today.
