THERE are plenty of well known hymns that are sang at royal events.
One of those being Praise my soul, the King of Heaven which will be sung at King Charles’ coronation, but what are the lyrics?
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What are the lyrics to Praise my soul, the King of Heaven?
Here are the lyrics to Praise my soul, the King of Heaven, which will be sung at King Charles’ coronation, in full:
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
Praise him for his grace and favor
To his people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!
Angels, help us to adore him;
You behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!
Why is the hymn being sung at King Charles’ coronation?
Praise my soul, the King, of Heaven will be sung near the end of King Charles III’s coronation ceremony closely followed by the national anthem.
It is being sung at the coronation due to being a long standing favourite of the royal family.
The anthem was the first sung at Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding when the then princess married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The hymn is from the 19th century.
Who wrote Praise my soul, the King of Heaven?
Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven was written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1834.
Ever since then it has been regularly performed at churches, cathedrals and other communion spaces for almost 200 years.
The hymn was put to its melody 34 years after Lyte’s original publication, when composer John Goss set it to music in 1868.
It became an instant success, with critics writing for the Musical Times in 1869 regarding the music as “the most beautiful and dignified hymn tune which has lately come under our notice”.