Hymns
Hymns on Sunday, 30 July 2023
It's all about descants today - those soaring vocal lines above the melody that are often sung on the final verse of hymns. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 23 July 2023
We're celebrating the birthday of Isaac Watts (17 July 1674) this week. He's often described as 'the father of English hymnody'. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 16 July 2023
The season of Matariki has begun. It’s a time to gather with family and friends to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. This week’s programme touches on some of those… Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 9 July 2023
We're marking 'Sea Sunday' in the programme this week. The second Sunday in July is designated in the liturgical calendar as a day of prayer for seafarers - it's a time to remember and celebrate those… Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 2 July 2023
There's a focus this week on the Elements - hymns that reference Earth, Wind, Water or Fire. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 25 June 2023
The Auckland-based Handel Quire gets this week’s programme off to a great start with Isaac Watts’ hymn Lord of the worlds above. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 18 June 2023
Brass bands and hymns – it’s a combination that’s hard to beat! In this week’s programme you can hear an arrangement of Abide with me, played by Woolston Brass. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 11 June 2023
We’re marking the Feast of Corpus Christi with hymns including Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and I am the Bread of Life written in the 1960s by American nun Sister Suzanne Toolan. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 4 June 2023
It’s Trinity Sunday, celebrating the three persons of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 28 May 2023
Celebrating Samoan Language Week and the Feast of Pentecost with hymns including Vivi’ I Ia Ma Fa’afetai, Breathe on me, breath of God, and Spirit of God, rest on your people. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 21 May 2023
Hymns for Ascension Sunday include Marnie Barrell’s Christ ascends to God, Hail the day that sees him rise by Charles Wesley and a hymn by his colleague, Edward Perronet. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 14 May 2023
We're marking Mother's Day with hymns to Mary, and Shirley Murray's Loving Spirit. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 7 May 2023
Music plays an important role in the coronation of King Charles III – and there are some hymns in the service. We’ll hear two of them in this week’s programme. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 30 April 2023
The days are getting shorter – and colder – and autumn colours are all around. The perfect time for harvest hymns! Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 23 April 2023
We look ahead to Anzac Day on 25 April with hymns sung at the very first Anzac Day service in 1916 (held in Christchurch Cathedral) and peace-themed hymns. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 16 April 2023
This week's programme features resurrection-themed hymns for Eastertide, an atmospheric rendition of Amazing Grace by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, and a benediction from the 1662 Book of… Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 9 April 2023
Hymns to celebrating Easter Sunday include two New Zealand hymns, a hymn from the 8th century and the 21st century classic In Christ Alone. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 2 April 2023
Hymns for Palm Sunday today, celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and marking the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian liturgical calendar. Audio
Hymns on Sunday, 26 March 2023
Children’s hymns feature in this week’s programme, along with a contemporary setting of Charles Wesley’s Love divine, all loves excelling and Graham Kendrick’s 20th century classic, The servant king.
…Hymns on Sunday, 19 March 2023
This week we’ve communion hymns, a psalm from the Scottish Psalter, and some hymns from writers who are proof that age is no barrier to trying something new. Audio