This page was created by Donal Hegarty.
30 Selections from the Top Ranking Hymns for Children
In the following table, "No." is the hymn number, in order of popularity; "Pop." is the popularity of the hymn (percentage of 100 19th-century children's hymnals surveyed). The title of each hymn is linked to a page with more information about the hymn: interpretation, audio recording, hymn text and musical score.
| No. | Pop. (%) | Title | Date | Author of text | Tune (composer if known) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | I think, when I read that sweet story of old | 1841 | Jemima Thompson Luke | Greek tune |
| 2 | 43 | Awake, my soul, and with the sun | 1674 | Thomas Ken | "Morning hymn" |
| 3 | 42 | Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear | 1827 | John Keble | "Hursley" |
| 4 | 41 | From Greenland’s icy mountains | 1823 | Reginald Heber | "Missionary Hymn" by Lowell Mason |
| 5 | 40 | Hark! The herald angels sing | 1739 | Charles Wesley | "Berlin" from Mendelssohn |
| 6 | 38 | There is a happy land | 1843 | Andrew Young | "Happy land" |
| 7 | 33 | Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty | 1826 | Reginald Heber | "Nicea" by J. B. Dykes |
| 8 | 33 | Rock of Ages, cleft for me | 1776 | Augustus Toplady | "Redhead" by Richard Redhead |
| 9 | 31 | All hail the power of Jesus’ name | 1779 | Edward Perronet | "Diadem" by James Ellor |
| 10 | 31 | Glory to Thee, my God, this night | 1695 | Thomas Ken | "Tallis’ Canon" |
| 11 | 29 | Abide with me, fast falls the eventide | 1847 | Henry Francis Lyte | "Eventide" by Wm. H. Monk |
| 12 | 29 | I sing the almighty power of God | 1715 | Isaac Watts | "Washington" |
| 13 | 26 | Nearer, my God, to thee | 1841 | Sarah Flower Adams | "Horbury" by J. B. Dykes |
| 14 | 25 | Around the throne of God in heaven | 1838 | Anne Shepherd | "Glory" |
| 15 | 25 | Great God, and will Thou condescend | 1810 | Anne and Jane Taylor | "Holley" by G. Hews |
| 16 | 25 | There’s a Friend for little children | 1859 | Albert Midlane | "Children’s Friend" |
| 17 | 24 | Gentle Jesus, meek and mild | 1742 | Charles Wesley | "Innocent" |
| 18 | 23 | Here we suffer grief and pain | 1832 | Thomas Bilby | "Joyful" |
| 19 | 22 | Christ the Lord is risen today | 1739 | Charles Wesley | "Easter Hymn" |
| 20 | 22 | Jerusalem the golden | 1861 | John Mason Neale | "Ewing" by Alexander Ewing |
| 21 | 20 | Hushed was the evening hymn | 1857 | James Burns | "Samuel" by Arthur Sullivan |
| 22 | 18 | We are but little children weak | 1850 | C. F. Alexander | "Alstone" |
| 23 | 16 | Once in Royal David’s City | 1848 | C. F. Alexander | "Irby" by H. J. Gauntlett |
| 24 | 9 | Jesus, Lover of my soul | 1740 | Charles Wesley | "Hollingside" by J. B. Dukes |
| 25 | 8 | I love to tell the story | 1866 | Katherine Hankey | "Hankey" by Wm. Fischer |
| 26 | 7 | Jesus bids us shine | 1881 | Susan Warner | "Little Soldiers" |
| 27 | 1 | Father, in high heaven dwelling | 1896 | unknown | Music by W. Jackson |
| 28 | 1 | One day, dear children, you must die | 1862 | unknown | Music by John B. Dykes |
| 29 | 1 | Voice of the Helpless (Band of Mercy) | 1897 | Carlotta Perry | Music by L. B. Marshall |
| 30 | 1 | Lift aloft our banner (Band of Mercy) | 1897 | Thomas Timmons | "Battle Hymn of the Republic" |
| 31 | 1 | There is a happy time (Band of Hope) | 1861 | unknown | "Happy Land" |
