The Big Hymn Sing 2026 Supporting 

Cancer Research UK

Rob Blythe reports. On Saturday 22nd August, as the bells rang out over Shamley Green, more than seventy people gathered at Christ Church for the third annual Big Hymn Sing. Over sixty hymns had been nominated as favourites, and thanks to the generosity of those who attended, over £550 was raised for Cancer Research UK.

We began with Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, followed by high‑scoring favourites including Lord of all hopefulness and Immortal, invisible, God only wise. A nostalgic turn to school assemblies and Sunday School brought When a knight won his spurs and Onward, Christian soldiers, before a reflective sequence featuring Come down, O Love divine, As the deer pants for the water, Living Lord, My song is love unknown and Be still, my soul. With Penny’s famous Pimm’s drawing near, we closed Part One

with I, the Lord of sea and sky, I will sing the wondrous story and Jerusalem.

Refreshed and grateful for the cooler weather, Part Two opened in full voice with Love divine, all loves excelling and For all the saints. A quieter moment followed with much‑loved hymns Dear Lord and Father of mankind and Be still for the presence of the Lord, before the two joint runners‑up were announced. O Jesus, I have promised—a favourite since the first Big Hymn Sing—was sung to no fewer than four different tunes (perhaps helped along by the Pimm’s), alongside the other runner‑up, I vow to thee, my country.

Christ Church Shamley Green’s favourite hymn for 2026 was Guide me, O thou great Redeemer—a hymn that has travelled from the valleys of Wales to churches and concert halls around the world. It invited every voice and every generation present to join in a shared declaration of trust and hope.

Our thanks go to everyone who attended the Big Hymn Sing, for your nominations and your glorious singing as together we offered our “Songs of Praises” to God. Special thanks to Penny and Tony Hodgson for refreshments; Pauline Egerton, Chris Sprague and Sue Willis as sides persons; Michael Harding for bell‑ringing; and Clare, Ali, Val, Lisa and Fiona for the beautiful flowers that adorned the church for the occasion.

Ed. 'Many many thanks go to Rob and everyone involved for such a brilliant afternoon'.

Looking forward to the Big Hymn Sing 2027, which hymn will be your number one! Maybe 'O Jesus, I have promised' 5 ways!!

You can still donate to this essential cause, please click on the logo above. Cancer Research UK was formed more than 20 years ago, in 2002. However, their history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.  Their pioneering work into how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has benefitted millions of lives over the past 120 years.