Funeral Hymns
The hymns families actually sing — with the words where we may print them, and the guidance everywhere.
Abide With Me
Full words“Abide with me; fast falls the eventide…”
Henry Francis Lyte (1847) · English
How Great Thou Art
Guide“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder…”
Stuart K. Hine (1949), after Carl Boberg (1885) · English
Haufi le Modimo
Guide“Haufi le Modimo, ke rata ho ba…”
Sesotho hymnal tradition, after Sarah F. Adams (1841) · Sesotho
Amazing Grace
Full words“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound…”
John Newton (1779) · English
Rock of Ages
Full words“Rock of Ages, cleft for me…”
Augustus Toplady (1776) · English
It Is Well With My Soul
Full words“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way…”
Horatio Spafford (1873) · English
The Old Rugged Cross
Guide“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross…”
George Bennard (1913) · English
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Full words“What a Friend we have in Jesus…”
Joseph Scriven (1855) · English
Nearer, My God, to Thee
Full words“Nearer, my God, to Thee…”
Sarah Flower Adams (1841) · English
Blessed Assurance
Full words“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!…”
Fanny Crosby (1873) · English
Be Thou My Vision
Full words“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart…”
Ancient Irish; tr. Mary Byrne (1905), versified Eleanor Hull (1912) · English
Lead, Kindly Light
Full words“Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom…”
John Henry Newman (1833) · English
The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Full words“The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want…”
Scottish Psalter (1650) · English
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Full words“O God, our help in ages past…”
Isaac Watts (1719) · English
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Full words“Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah…”
William Williams (1745) · English
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Full words“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!…”
William Walford (1845) · English
Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
Full words“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…”
Will L. Thompson (1880) · English
In the Sweet By and By
Full words“There's a land that is fairer than day…”
Sanford Bennett (1868) · English
When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
Full words“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more…”
James Black (1893) · English
When We All Get to Heaven
Full words“Sing the wondrous love of Jesus…”
Eliza Hewitt (1898) · English
I Need Thee Every Hour
Full words“I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord…”
Annie Hawks (1872) · English
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
Full words“Pass me not, O gentle Saviour…”
Fanny Crosby (1868) · English
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Full words“Jesus, Lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly…”
Charles Wesley (1740) · English
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Full words“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace…”
Robert Robinson (1758) · English
Holy, Holy, Holy
Full words“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!…”
Reginald Heber (1826) · English
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Full words“When I survey the wondrous cross…”
Isaac Watts (1707) · English
Just As I Am
Full words“Just as I am, without one plea…”
Charlotte Elliott (1835) · English
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Full words“What a fellowship, what a joy divine…”
Elisha Hoffman (1887) · English
There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood
Full words“There is a fountain filled with blood…”
William Cowper (1772) · English
Stand By Me
Full words“When the storms of life are raging, stand by me…”
Charles Albert Tindley (1905) · English
We'll Understand It Better By and By
Full words“We are often tossed and driven on the restless sea of time…”
Charles Albert Tindley (1905) · English
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Full words“Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave…”
William Whiting (1860) · English
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Full words“Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne…”
Matthew Bridges (1851) and Godfrey Thring (1874) · English
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Guide“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father…”
Thomas Chisholm (1923) · English
Asleep in Jesus
Full words“Asleep in Jesus! Blessed sleep, from which none ever wakes to weep…”
Margaret Mackay (1832) · English
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Full words“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary…”
Ray Palmer (1830) · English
Fairest Lord Jesus
Full words“Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature…”
Anonymous German (17th c.); tr. 1850/1873 · English
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Guide“Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand…”
Thomas A. Dorsey (1932) · English
I'll Fly Away
Guide“Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away…”
Albert E. Brumley (1929) · English
Because He Lives
Guide“God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus…”
Bill & Gloria Gaither (1971) · English
On Eagle's Wings
Guide“You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord…”
Michael Joncas (1979) · English
In Christ Alone
Guide“In Christ alone my hope is found…”
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (2001) · English
Jerusalema Ikhaya Lami
Guide“Jerusalema ikhaya lami engilithandayo…”
isiZulu hymnal tradition · isiZulu
Akekho Ofana NoJesu
Guide“Akekho ofana noJesu…”
Southern African chorus tradition · isiZulu
Amagugu Alelizwe
Guide“Amagugu alelizwe ayosala…”
isiZulu hymnal tradition · isiZulu
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
Guide“Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika; maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo…”
Enoch Sontonga (1897) · isiXhosa
Lizalis' Idinga Lakho
Guide“Lizalis' idinga lakho, Thixo Nkosi yenyaniso…”
Tiyo Soga (1829–1871) · isiXhosa
Siyakudumisa Thixo
Guide“Siyakudumisa, Thixo…”
isiXhosa Te Deum tradition · isiXhosa
Ndikhokhele O Yehova
Guide“Ndikhokhele, O Yehova…”
isiXhosa hymnal, after William Williams (1745) · isiXhosa
Masibulele Ku Yesu
Guide“Masibulele kuYesu, ngokuba wasifela…”
isiXhosa hymnal tradition · isiXhosa
Ke Na Le Modisa
Guide“Ke na le Modisa, ke tla be ke hloka'ng?…”
Lifela tsa Sione (Psalm 23) · Sesotho
Jesu Motswalle
Guide“Jesu, motswalle ya nkileng melato le makgopo…”
Lifela tsa Sione, after Joseph Scriven (1855) · Sesotho
Morena Ke Modisa
Guide“Morena ke modisa wa me…”
Setswana hymnal (Psalm 23) · Setswana
Bly By My, Heer
Guide“Bly by my, Heer…”
Afrikaans gesang, after Henry F. Lyte (1847) · Afrikaans
Wat 'n Vriend Het Ons in Jesus
Guide“Wat 'n vriend het ons in Jesus…”
Afrikaans gesang, after Joseph Scriven (1855) · Afrikaans
Nader, My God, by U
Guide“Nader, my God, by U…”
Afrikaans gesang, after Sarah F. Adams (1841) · Afrikaans
Die Here Is My Herder (Psalm 23)
Guide“Die Here is my Herder…”
Afrikaanse Psalmberyming · Afrikaans
Vaste Rots van My Behoud
Guide“Vaste Rots van my behoud…”
Afrikaans gesang, after Augustus Toplady (1776) · Afrikaans
Genade Onbeskryflik Groot
Guide“Genade, onbeskryflik groot…”
Afrikaans gesang, after John Newton (1779) · Afrikaans
Veilig in Jesus se Arms
Guide“Veilig in Jesus se arms…”
Afrikaans gesang, after Fanny Crosby (1868) · Afrikaans
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Common questions
Can I print these hymn lyrics in our programme?+
Where the full words appear on our pages they are public domain and free to print. The pages marked “guide” carry no words — either the hymn is still in copyright, or we do not hold a reliable text for it. In both cases print the title and hymn number; the congregation knows the words.
How many hymns does a funeral need?+
Most services carry three to four: a gathering or opening hymn, one after the life story or tributes, and a closing hymn as the coffin leaves — with one more at the graveside if the burial follows.
How do I add a hymn to my programme?+
Every hymn page has an “Add to your programme” button — it opens the free editor with that hymn already placed in your order of service.