Holy, Holy, Holy

The story of this hymn

Reginald Heber wrote these verses for Trinity Sunday while vicar of Hodnet in Shropshire, before sailing for India as Bishop of Calcutta, where he died suddenly in 1826, aged 42; his hymns were gathered and published after his death. John Bacchus Dykes composed the tune 'Nicaea' for these words in 1861, and the two are now inseparable. It is the best-known English hymn of pure praise, chosen for funerals when a family wants to open with worship rather than mourning.

Where it sits in the service

Almost always the opening hymn — it gathers the congregation into worship before a word of tribute is spoken, and Dykes's tune is one nearly everyone can sing unaided. It is less common at the graveside. Print all four verses in full; the hymn is short enough, and it pairs naturally with a quieter closing hymn such as 'Abide With Me'.

In the programme, list it in the order of service as “Hymn — Holy, Holy, Holy” with the leader or choir named beside it.

How it is actually sung

A hymn of worship rather than of mourning, and it opens a service far better than it closes one. Sung to Nicaea, which almost every congregation knows even where the words are hazy. Four verses, all of them used. It suits a formal or liturgical funeral and needs an organ behind it — in a small chapel with no instrument it can feel grander than the room, which is the commonest reason families regret choosing it.

Printing the words

Public domain. Print all four verses; the hymn builds and truncating it leaves it unresolved.

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.