Hymns for funerals: popular choices by tradition
Short answer
The hymns that appear on almost every UK funeral list are Abide with Me, The Lord's My Shepherd (to the tune Crimond), Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer and Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. SunLife's 2026 report found Abide with Me had overtaken My Way as the most played funeral song in the UK. Catholic funerals often add On Eagle's Wings, Be Not Afraid and Here I Am, Lord.
Most funerals have room for one to three hymns: one near the start, sometimes one in the middle, and one before the committal or at the end. Familiar tunes matter more than words on the page. A hymn everyone half-knows will be sung; an unfamiliar one, however lovely, often will not.
Below are the hymns that come up again and again in published lists from the BBC's Songs of Praise, UK funeral directors and the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Funeral hymns that appear on almost every list
| Hymn | Words / tune | Why families choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Abide with Me | H. F. Lyte / W. H. Monk (Eventide) | A prayer for God's presence at the end of life; the most played funeral music in the UK in 2025, per SunLife |
| The Lord's My Shepherd | Psalm 23, Scottish Psalter / Crimond | Psalm 23 set to a tune most people know |
| Amazing Grace | John Newton / American folk melody | Grace and forgiveness; sung everywhere, from churches to crematoria |
| How Great Thou Art | Carl Boberg, tr. Stuart K. Hine | Big, uplifting chorus; popular in the UK and US |
| Dear Lord and Father of Mankind | J. G. Whittier / Hubert Parry (Repton) | Quiet and calm: “the still, small voice of calm” |
| Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer | William Williams / John Hughes (Cwm Rhondda) | Welsh favourite with a rousing tune |
| Make Me a Channel of Your Peace | Prayer of St Francis, Sebastian Temple | Gentle; works for Catholic and Anglican services |
| The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended | John Ellerton / St Clement | An evening hymn often used to close a service |
| Morning Has Broken | Eleanor Farjeon | Hopeful and light; known from school assemblies |
| All Things Bright and Beautiful | Cecil Frances Alexander | Familiar to almost everyone; often chosen for gardeners and nature lovers |
| Jerusalem | William Blake / Hubert Parry | Stirring and patriotic; a strong closing hymn |
| It Is Well With My Soul | Horatio Spafford / Philip Bliss | Peace in loss; much loved in the US |
Church of England and other Protestant churches
Anglican, Methodist and Nonconformist funerals draw from the same core: Abide with Me, The Lord's My Shepherd, The Day Thou Gavest, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Be Still, My Soul, and Lord of All Hopefulness. Methodist families often add a Charles Wesley hymn such as Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Welsh families frequently choose Calon Lân or Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.
Catholic funeral Mass
A Catholic funeral Mass has set moments for music: an opening hymn, the responsorial psalm, the offertory, Communion, the Song of Farewell at the commendation, and a recessional. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles suggests, among others:
- Opening: Be Not Afraid, Here I Am, Lord, On Eagle's Wings, O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Amazing Grace
- Psalm: Psalm 23 in one of its settings (The Lord's My Shepherd, My Shepherd Is the Lord)
- Offertory and Communion: How Great Thou Art, Lord of All Hopefulness, Prayer of St Francis, Bread of Life, Like a Shepherd
- Recessional: In Paradisum, Be Not Afraid
Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus are often sung by a soloist. Parishes have their own rules about secular songs during Mass, so ask the priest early; popular songs often fit better at the vigil, the graveside or the reception.
Gospel and US favourites
In the US, and in Black-majority churches in the UK, gospel songs are as central as hymns: Precious Lord, Take My Hand, I'll Fly Away, Going Up Yonder, It Is Well With My Soul, Blessed Assurance and Softly and Tenderly. A soloist or choir usually leads; a recording works well at the start or end.
Choosing and placing hymns
- Pick one everyone knows for the first hymn, so the singing starts strong.
- Count the verses: four is plenty; ask the organist to drop verses if needed.
- Put the words in the order of service. Many classic hymns are in the public domain; for newer ones the church or venue normally needs a licence — CCLI explains the rules.
- No organist? Crematoria usually have recorded hymn accompaniments or sung versions; ask the funeral director for their list.
- Small congregation? A recorded choir version you listen to, rather than sing, can feel less exposed.
For songs rather than hymns, see our funeral song lists, which you can filter by faith.
Questions people ask
What is the most popular funeral hymn?
In the UK, Abide with Me. SunLife's 2026 Cost of Dying report found it had overtaken My Way as the most played song at funerals.
What is a good opening hymn for a funeral?
A familiar one everyone can sing: The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond), Amazing Grace or All Things Bright and Beautiful.
What is a joyful hymn for a funeral?
How Great Thou Art, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, Morning Has Broken, Jerusalem and, in the gospel tradition, I'll Fly Away.
How many hymns should a funeral have?
One to three. A 30-minute crematorium service usually has room for one or two.
Sources
- Hymns for funerals, BBC Songs of Praise, 2021-07-01 (read 2026-10-05)
- Cost of Dying Report 2026, SunLife, 2026 (read 2026-10-05)
- Hymns for funeral liturgy (Order of Christian Funerals), Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2024-11-13 (read 2026-10-05)
- Weddings and funerals: copyright, CCLI (read 2026-10-05)
How we wrote this
Written by the In Memoriam Film team with AI assistance for research and drafting, then checked against the sources above. Figures come only from those sources; where a number is our own rule of thumb we say so. We make memorial films, so where a guide mentions our product, that is why.