Top Hymns of 1899

Louis Fitzgerald Benson (1855-1930) was a pastor, music historian and author. In 1899 he compiled a list of the hymns that appeared most often in 107 hymn books published in the late nineteenth century. The hymnals came from several denominations, in both North America and Great Britain. The list says nothing about the quality of the hymns, but it does suggest they were known and used by many. Each of the 32 songs below appeared in at least 86 out of 107 hymnals. They are listed from the most frequently published down to the least.

1. Rock of Ages (106)
2. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (104)
3. Jesus, Lover of My Soul (104)
4. All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night (103)
5. Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken (103)
6. Sun of My Soul (103)
7. Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun (101)
8. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (101)
9. Abide with Me (101)
10. Jerusalem, My Happy Home (101)
11. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds (101)
12. Nearer, My God, to Thee (100)
13. From Greenland’s Icy Mountains (100)
14. O God, Our Help in Ages Past (100)
15. Jerusalem the Golden (99)
16. Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (94)
17. Jesus Shall Reign (94)
18. Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (93)
19. Hark! the Glad Sound, the Saviour Comes (92)
20. Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs (92)
21. All Hail the Pow’r of Jesus’ Name (92)
22. Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (91)
23. O Worship the King (91)
24. Christ the Lord is Ris’n Today (90)
25. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (90)
26. Just as I Am, Without One Plea (90)
27. God Moves in a Mysterious Way (90)
28. Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (89)
29. Children of the Heavenly King (87)
30. There is a Land of Pure Delight (87)
31. Thou Whose Almighty Word (86)
32. Brief Life Is Here Our Portion (86)