THE FINEST HYMN FOR ALL SAINTS' DAY/ ALL SAINTS DAY

 THE HYMN  - by  an opinionated retired Minister.




Forget "For All The Saints". It's a bit too triumphalist for me.

It drags on a bit, wearying the congregation and leaving it breathless! 

I suspect Church organists love it'


Here is my choice, with the text by the great and noble Puritan Richard Baxter:   https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Baxter  

 "Ye Holy Angels Bright"


https://youtu.be/s7gVCTKnSQM


I love the comprehensive progression:

The Holy Angels

     The Blessed Souls at Rest

          The saints who toil below  (the Church)

               The individual  (my soul bear thou thy part)


There are five words in the last stanza which I find to be utterly delicious:  "with a well-tuned heart".   Could  there be a better metaphor for the whole business of discipleship/prayer/ gracious spirituality






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