The Top 10 Hymns of 1953
From time to time, major polls have been conducted to discover what the favourite hymns of the day are. Below is a poll that was taken in the United States over half a century ago. Look closely, and you will notice something interesting about it.
- The Old Rugged Cross
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus
- I Love to Tell the Story
- In the Garden
- Rock of Ages
- Sweet Hour of Prayer
- Abide with Me
- He Leadeth Me
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul
- Nearer, My God, to Thee / All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
(The last two hymns virtually tied for the tenth spot.) But can you see that there are two significant omissions from the list? In any poll taken today, Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art rank right at the top. But they are nowhere to be found here. And it is not because they are newer songs. Amazing Grace was first published in 1779, and How Great Thou Art was written around 1886. The reasons for their more recent addition to the “Top 10″ will be discussed in a later post. Stay tuned!