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Music Musings #200: The Favorite Hymns of United Methodists (2008)
July 18, 2008

by Dean McIntyre

This and previous Music Musings may be found at
http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.5603503/k.A04F/Music_Musings.htm

Since 1994 I have made periodic efforts to learn what are the favorite hymns of United Methodists. As
technology has progressed and its availability grown, my methods have become more sophisticated and

more accurate. Early attempts involved polling a number of identified experts (music directors, pastors,
professors, hymn writers) for their opinions, not of their own personal favorites, but of the
denominational favorites. From an initial sample of under 100, the number of respondents has grown in

the latest polling into the thousands – nearly 20,000 of them – including United Methodists from
congregations all over the USA. The results reveal the most accurate and detailed data yet about the
favorite hymns of our denomination. Here is a summary of the top ten favorites identified in the 2007
research:

United Methodist Hymnal : All Responses The Faith We Sing: All Responses

1 Amazing Grace 378 1 The Summons 2130
2 I’ll Fly Away 2282
2 Here I Am, Lord 593 3 As the Deer 2025
4 His Eye Is on the Sparrow 2146
3 How Great Thou Art 77 5 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2051
6 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
4 Be Thou My Vision 451 7 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
8 Sanctuary 2164
5 Because He Lives 364 9 Shout to the Lord 2074
10 They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our 2223
6 Blessed Assurance 369
Love
7 Hymn of Promise 707

8 A Mighty Fortress 110

9 It Is Well with My Soul 377

10 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today 302

United Methodist Hymnal: Laity The Faith We Sing: Laity

1 Amazing Grace 378 1 I’ll Fly Away 2282
2 How Great Thou Art 77 2 His Eye Is On the Sparrow 2146
3 Here I Am, Lord 3 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
4 Because He Lives 593 4 As the Deer 2025
5 Blessed Assurance 364 5 Sanctuary 2164
6 Be Thou My Vision 369 6 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
7 A Mighty Fortress 451 7 Shout to the Lord 2074
8 It Is Well with My Soul 110 8 They’ll Know We Are Christians 2223
9 Hymn of Promise 377 9 Awesome God 2040
10 In the Garden 707 2158
314 Just a Closer Walk with Thee 2051
10 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry
2130
The Summons

United Methodist Hymnal: Clergy The Faith We Sing: Clergy

1 Here I Am, Lord 593 1 The Summons 2130
2 Be Thou My Vision 451 2 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2051
3 Amazing Grace 378 3 As the Deer 2025
4 Hymn of Promise 707 4 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
5 It Is Well with My Soul 377 5 Gather Us In 2236
6 A Mighty Fortress 110 6 We Are Marching/Siyahamba 2235
7 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today 302 7 Come and Find the Quiet Center 2128
8 Because He Lives 364 2164
9 How Great Thou Art Sanctuary 2282
10 Great Is Thy Faithfulness 77 8 I’ll Fly Away 2162
140 9 Grace Alone 2088
10 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
The United Methodist Hymnal: 2130
Congregational Singers The Faith We Sing: 2282
Congregational Singers 2051
1 Amazing Grace 378 2173
2 Here I Am, Lord 593 1 The Summons 2164
3 How Great Thou Art 2 I’ll Fly Away 2088
4 Be Thou My Vision 77 3 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2146
5 Because He Lives 451 4 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2025
6 Hymn of Promise 364 5 Sanctuary 2074
7 Blessed Assurance 707 6 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2223
8 It Is Well with My Soul 369 7 His Eye Is On the Sparrow
9 A Mighty Fortress 377 8 As the Deer
10 Christ, the Lord Is Risen Today 110 9 Shout to the Lord
302 10 They’ll Know We Are Christians

The United Methodist Hymnal: The Faith We Sing:
Choir or Music Director Choir or Music Director

1 Be Thou My Vision 451 1 The Summons 2130
2 Amazing Grace 378 2 As the Deer 2025
3 Here I Am, Lord 593 2051
4 Hymn of Promise 707 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2282
5 A Mighty Fortress 110 3 I’ll Fly Away 2162
6 It Is Well with My Soul 377 4 Grace Alone 2173
7 How Great Thou Art 2074
8 Blessed Assurance 77 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2164
9 Because He Lives 369 5 Shout to the Lord 2218
10 Spirit Song 364 6 Sanctuary 2146
347 2088
You Are Mine 2152
7 His Eye Is On the Sparrow 2236
8 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2095
9 Change My Heart, O God 2223
10 Gather Us In

Star-Child
They’ll Know We Are Christians

The United Methodist Hymnal: Under Age 30 The Faith We Sing: Under Age 30

1 Be Thou My Vision 45 1 The Summons 2130
593
2 Here I Am, Lord 378 3 I’ll Fly Away 2282
Sanctuary 2164
3 Amazing Grace 77
377 3 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2051
4 How Great Thou Art 400
It Is Well with My Soul 369 4 Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth 2050
302 We Are Marching/Siyahamba 2235
5 Come, Thou Fount 110
5 Awesome God 2040
6 Blessed Assurance 57 I Am Your Mother 2059
Christ, the Lord Is Risen Today Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
364
7 A Mighty Fortress 64 6 As the Deer 2025
His Eye Is on the Sparrow 2146
8 O For a Thousand Tongues to 707 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 2051
Sing 261 Womb of Life 2046
140
9 Because He Lives 7 Gather Us In 2236
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God
Almighty 8 Shout to the Lord 2074
Hymn of Promise Wade in the Water 2107
Lord of the Dance We Are Called 2172

10 Great Is Thy Faithfulness 9 Give Thanks 2036
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
You Are Mine 2218

10 Come and Find the Quiet Center 2128

The United Methodist Hymnal: 31-50 The Faith We Sing: 31-50

1 Amazing Grace 378 1 The Summons 2130
2 Here I Am, Lord 593 2 I’ll Fly Away 2282
3 Be Thou My Vision 451 3 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
4 How Great Thou Art 4 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
5 It Is Well with My Soul 77 5 Sanctuary 2164
6 Blessed Assurance 377 6 As the Deer 2025
7 Hymn of Promise 369 7 Shout to the Lord 2074
8 Because He Lives 707 8 I Was There to Hear Your Borning 2051
9 A Mighty Fortress 364
10 Christ, the Lord Is Risen Today 110 Cry 2236
302 9 Gather Us In 2223
Great Is Thy Faithfulness 140 10 They’ll Know We Are Christians

The United Methodist Hymnal: 51-70 The Faith We Sing: 51-70

1 Amazing Grace 378 1 I’ll Fly Away 2282
2 How Great Thou Art 77 2 His Eye Is On the Sparrow 2146
3 Here I Am, Lord 3 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
4 Because He Lives 593 4 As the Deer 2025
5 Blessed Assurance 364 5 Sanctuary 2164
6 Be Thou My Vision 369 6 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
7 A Mighty Fortress 451 7 Shout to the Lord 2074
8 It Is Well with My Soul 110 8 They’ll Know We Are Christians 2223
9 Hymn of Promise 377 9 Awesome God 2040
10 In the Garden 707 2158
314 Just a Closer Walk with Thee 2051
10 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

The United Methodist Hymnal: Over 70 The Faith We Sing: Over 70

1 Amazing Grace 378 1 I’ll Fly Away 2282
2 How Great Thou Art 77 2 His Eye Is On the Sparrow 2146
3 Here I Am, Lord 3 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High 2088
4 Because He Lives 593 4 As the Deer 2025
5 Blessed Assurance 364 5 Sanctuary 2164
6 Be Thou My Vision 369 6 Shine, Jesus, Shine 2173
7 A Mighty Fortress 451 7 Shout to the Lord 2074
8 It Is Well with My Soul 110 8 They’ll Know We Are Christians 2223
9 Hymn of Promise 377 9 Awesome God 2040
10 In the Garden 707 2158
314 Just a Closer Walk with Thee 2051
10 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

Songs and Hymns Requested to Be Included in a New Hymnal that Are Not Now Included in
The United Methodist Hymnal or The Faith We Sing Listed in Order of Frequency Requested

1. Love Lifted Me
2. Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord
3. Amazing Love
4. God Bless America
5. He Hideth My Soul
6. Heaven Came Down
7. Ivory Palaces
8. Let Us Sing Unto the Lord
9. O Holy Night

Also see:
• Complete Survey Data for 2007-2008 Research
http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.7660473/k.91FC/Music_Research.htm

• “Favorite Hymns of United Methodists” (2007)
http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5594231&ct=11577493
&notoc=1

• “Favorite Hymns of United Methodists IN 2000 and 2006”
http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5594231&ct=4282027

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2008 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church (Dean B. McIntyre,
Director of Music Resources); PO Box 340003; Nashville TN 37203-0003; telephone 877-899-2780, ext.
7070; website <http://www.umcworship.org>. This article may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local
church and educational use with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by
permission." It may not be sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on a website.

Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources
The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003; Nashville TN 37203-0003
Telephone 877-899-2780, ext 7073 (toll free)
Telephone 615-340-7073. Fax 615-340-7015
Email Address: [email protected]
Website <http://www.umcworship.org>