16 Beautiful Funeral Hymns | Distinct Cremations (2024)

Though hymns are traditionally sung at religious funerals, especially Catholic funerals, hymns are no longer exclusively religious and can be sung at any type of funeral service - apart from a direct cremation which is a cremation without a funeral service.

It doesn't matter whether it's a small, attended cremation, a simple funeral service or a non-religious burial. If you have the scope to personalise a funeral however you'd like, you can incorporate a hymn into the funeral service.

If you'd like to know more about how to organise a personal funeral service, you can call our team on 01543 211997 or continue to read on for the funeral hymn examples.

At a Christian funeral service, there are usually at least two hymns sung. The funeral service usually opens with a hymn and closes with a hymn, and often there are hymns dotted throughout the service too.

At a non religious or non traditional funeral service, you can have as few or as many hymns as you like - the choice rests with you and your family. You will just have to consider the length of the service and the length of the hymn so you can schedule the funeral service appropriately.

Hymns are often passed down the family tree. Once a hymn is heard at a funeral of a loved one, that hymn often becomes very special to us and resonates with us on a very deep level, and therefore we often like to have hymns at our funeral that we hear at a loved one's.

For that reason, many of the most popular hymns in the UK today have been atop the list for decades. You'll likely recognise a few.

1. Amazing Grace
   Along with How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace is often polled as being Britain's favourite hymn and is estimated to be performed 10 million times a year worldwide

   Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
   That saved a wretch like me.
   I once was lost, but now am found,
   Was blind but now I see.

2. How Great Thou Art
   Voted Britain's favourite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise, How Great Thou Art is a fairly new English hymn having been translated from Swedish in 1949

   O mighty God, when I behold the wonder
   Of nature's beauty, wrought by words of thine,
   And how thou leadest all from realms up yonder,
   Sustaining earthly life with love benign.

3. Jerusalem
   Based on the poem by William Blake, Jerusalem is one of the most recognisable hymns in the UK and sung at all England cricket home games

   I will not cease from mental fight,
   Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
   Till we have built Jerusalem
   In England's green and pleasant land.

4. Abide With Me
   A prayer to God to stay with us through life and death, Abide With Me is also a favourite of football fans as it's traditionally sung at the FA Cup Final

   Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
   The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Of all the Christian denominations, Catholicism is the one most associated with hymns, as they are widely used for pilgrimages as well as a constant at mass.

How Great Thou Art, Abide With Me and Amazing Grace are common Catholic funeral hymns, but there are many more too.

1. The Lord's My Shepherd
   Often sung in place of the reading of the psalm, The Lord's My Shepherd is common at notable royal occasions and at school, and is based on Psalm 23

   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.

2. Here I Am, Lord
   Voted Britain's fifth favourite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise, Here I Am, Lord is traditionally sung as an entrance hymn at many Catholic funerals

   Here I am, Lord
   Is it I, Lord?
   I have heard You calling in the night
   I will go, Lord
   If You lead me
   I will hold Your people in my heart.

3. As I Kneel Before You
   Often sung at the funeral entrance or at communion, As I Kneel Before You has been one of the most popular Catholic hymns since John Paul II's 1982 visit to Liverpool cathedral

   As I kneel before you,
   And I see your smiling face,
   Ev’ry thought, ev’ry word
   Is lost in your embrace.

4. Be Not Afraid
   Traditionally saved for the end of the funeral, Bob Dufford's 1975 hymn Be Not Afraid is a favourite around the world and was sung at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993

   Be not afraid.
   I go before you always.
   Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

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Hymns are very traditional pieces of music, but new hymns are still coming out every year. Indeed, some of the biggest musical hits in recent times have been adapted from modern hymns.

You may recognise a few of them below.

1. You Raise Me Up
   Popularised in 2005 by Westlife, You Raise Me Up was composed by the Norweigan Rolf Lovland and was performed for the first time at his mother's funeral

   You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
   You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
   I am strong when I am on your shoulders
   You raise me up to more than I can be

2. Thank You Jesus For The Blood
   Charity Gale's hymn from 2021 has become one of the most popular modern hymns of the 21st century. Her performance of the song has 42m views on YouTube

   You took my place, laid inside my tomb of sin
   You were buried for three days but then You walked right out again
   Now death has no sting and life has no end
   For I have been transformed by the blood of the Lamb.

3. Kings of Kings
   Kings of Kings was written by the Sydney worship collective in 1995 but really took off in popularity in the 21st century. It's now one of Australia's most popular hymns

   Praise the Father, praise the Son
   Praise the Spirit, three in one
   God of glory, Majesty
   Praise forever to the King of Kings

4. Living Hope
   Released in 2018, Phil Wickham's modern hymn is a poetic affirmation for the selfless love of Christ and was the second most streamed hymn on PraiseCharts in 2020

   Who could imagine so great a mercy?
   What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
   The God of ages stepped down from glory
   To wear my sin and bear my shame

There are many funeral hymns for dad that can provide a meaningful and heartfelt tribute. For football fans and cricket fans, Abide with me and Jerusalem may be good options to pick.

Or, maybe one of the two examples below.

1. Silent Night
   Though it's a Christmas Carol, Silent Night still resonates with many all year round, and for dads who were into Elvis, the song will likely hold a special place in their heart

   Silent night, holy night!
   All is calm, all is bright.
   Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
   Holy infant so tender and mild,
   Sleep in heavenly peace,
   Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Lord Of The Dance
   Written in 1963, Lord Of The Dance is an upbeat hymn which will be popular with dads who are football fans with many iterations heard on the football terraces around the UK

   Dance, then, wherever you may be,
   I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
   And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
   And I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

For many of us, our mothers and grandmothers would have been the ones to get us into hymns. Whether it was sitting beside them in church or whether it was them listening to Songs of Praise on TV, it's hard not to associate a hymn or two with your mum.

Here's a couple of hymns that might be appropriate for your mum's funeral.

1. All Things Bright and Beautiful
   Traditionally an Anglican hymn, but also sung at most Christian denominations, there can't be a better title or hymn to sum up the way we feel about our own mother

   All things bright and beautiful,
   All creatures great and small,
   All things wise and wonderful,
   The Lord God made them all.

2. Shine Jesus Shine
   A very upbeat hymn, Shine Jesus Shine was voted Britain's 10th favourite hymn by Songs of Praise and is sure to jerk a tear of joy and sadness despite the positive rhythm

   Shine, Jesus, shine
   Fill this land with the Father's glory
   Blaze, Spirit, blaze
   Set our hearts on fire

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