Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

The story of this hymn

William Williams of Pantycelyn, the great hymn-writer of the Welsh Methodist revival, wrote the original Welsh words in 1745; Peter Williams began the familiar English translation in 1771, giving the world 'Bread of heaven'. Early in the twentieth century John Hughes composed the tune 'Cwm Rhondda' for a chapel singing festival near Pontypridd, and words and tune became inseparable. Sung at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997 — and at rugby grounds every season — it is the hymn for singing through tears at full voice.

Where it sits in the service

Almost always the closing hymn: it builds verse by verse, and the repeated last lines draw in even those who never sing. The third verse, asking to be landed 'safe on Canaan's side', is the burial verse, so it also serves at the graveside. Print the repeated lines out in full, and name the tune — Cwm Rhondda — so the organist plays the one everyone expects.

In the programme, list it in the order of service as “Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” with the leader or choir named beside it.

How it is actually sung

Welsh in origin and sung to Cwm Rhondda, which is the tune everyone recognises from rugby grounds as much as from churches. It is loud, confident singing rather than mourning, and it is a superb choice for a service that ends with a procession — the congregation walks out on it. Three verses.

Printing the words

Public domain. Print all three and name Cwm Rhondda as the tune; sung to anything else it loses the reason it was chosen.

This is practical guidance rather than legal advice. Reproduction rights vary by territory, by hymnal edition and by the licence your church holds — the church office is the right place to ask, and they answer this question often.