Charles Wesley wrote "Hark How All the Welkin Rings", but that line and some other lyrics were changed over the years. Still, this is surely one of the most in depth and powerful Christmas carols ever written!

One of the great Christmas songs, written by a minister after he spent a Christmas in Bethlehem and observed it's still, silent beauty.

A classic hymn written by a Unitarian hymnwriter, based on Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28. It's controversial because it doesn't mention Jesus, but it is still a wonderful song of God's closeness through life's ups and downs.

The great Doxology which so many of us have sung was composed by Thomas Kent as the closing verse to three different hymns, written for schoolboys to develop a rich devotional life. How this song has spread and touched lives!!

The great Fanny Crosby wrote "Pass Me Not" when hearing the cry of an inmate during prison ministry. Her words have come to mean a lot to many people, reminding us that when we call out in humble trust, our Lord never passes us by!

A classic Charles Wesley hymn which he wrote on the occasion of his conversion. Methodists and other Christians have long found this to be a moving and powerful hymn to sing, because we can all relate to Wesley's awe in the amazing love of Christ who died for us sinners.

Today I want to honour my friend who inspired my Friday Classic Hymns series, which has made my YouTube channel grow about 200%. Thanks Bruce!

The last words of a dying preacher inspired his colleague to write "stand up stand up for Jesus".

The father of gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey, wrote the classic hymn 'Take My Hand Precious Lord' while dealing with a great personal tragedy.

A brilliant classic hymn about flying away to heaven and being freed from earth's shackles! But does it glorify death, and deny life's goodness? Hear the story of Alfred E. Brumley writing this song and let's look at the lyrics and then sing it together.

This classic hymn has a tragic story of loss and heartache - but through it all, the author Louis M.R. Stead found that trusting Jesus was the answer! She also became a missionary to my own country of South Africa.

A Sunday School teacher named James M. Black met a lost young girl and invited her to his class. Her absence at one of their future lessons led to this classic hymn about our names being read out one day in glory! Hear the story and a deep look at the words in today's episode.

Philip P. Bliss was a brilliant singer and hymnwriter whose life came to a tragic end shortly after writing this classic hymn about Christ the Man of sorrows. Hear the story, and a deep look at his lyrics, on today's episode.

Today's Friday Classic Hymn is "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". A lovely song written by an earnest Christian man named Robert Robinson, who ended up losing his way. Hear the story, the song, and the meaning of the lyrics on today's episode here.

A favorite classic hymn with roots in the American civil war. A liberal (for the day) woman wrote these stirring words about the second coming of Christ, using lots of imagery from Revelation. What a powerful and moving song! Hear the history, an analysis of the lyrics, and a performance of all 6 original verses on today's episode.

A talented songwriter and musician wrote this beautiful song, which DL Moody said he would have loved to have written! Many lives have been touched by these special words. Has yours?

This classic hymn has got simple but profound words and a singable melody. How joyful to sing "O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!" The verses are deep and meaningful. Hear the history of this great hymn on today's episode.

A classic hymn inspired by words in Revelation - but these days we sing some words from the original, and some from a rewritten version. Hymnals differ in the verses they publish! Either way, it is a powerful song giving Christ the glory that is His.

Augustus Toplady wrote this brilliant old hymn. First a fan of Wesleys, he ended up becoming their enemy! And yet his classic hymn was probably influenced by a Wesleyan hymnal which spoke of the Rock of Ages.

A classic Charles Wesley hymn. Did he write it in a storm? When a bird flew into his office? When he was chased by a crowd after preaching? Whichever story is true, Wesley’s great hymn is comforting to us as we seek to live out our faith.