Stacey Plays Hymns

This beautiful hymn about the beauty of God's creation in summertime is a special old one I found in the old hymnal archives! It proclaims the wonder of God's power in the warm suns of summer and how we can, even when dark clouds come, trust Him to be the light of our way.

You can listen on your favourite streaming platform here or watch the beautiful countryside lyric video:

Summer suns are glowing
over land and sea;
happy light is flowing
bountiful and free.
Everything rejoices
in the mellow rays;
all earth's thousand voices
swell the psalm of praise.

God's free mercy streaming
over all the world,
and his banner gleaming
everywhere unfurled.
Broad and deep and glorious
as the heaven above,
shines in might victorious
his eternal love.

Lord, upon our blindness
Thy pure radiance pour;
for Thy loving-kindness
make us love Thee more.
And, when clouds are drifting
dark across our sky,
then, the veil uplifting,
Father, be Thou nigh.

We will never doubt Thee,
though Thou veil Thy light;
life is dark without Thee,
death with Thee is bright.
Light of light, shine o'er us
on our pilgrim way;
Go Thou still before us
to the endless day.

Written by William Walsham How / Samuel Smith

"O Where are Kings and Empires Now" is a powerful old hymn I found in the Book of Common Prayer, and was inspired to set it to a new melody that invokes a sense of victory that the anthemic lyrics proclaim.  You can also listen to the rest of the album (21 songs!) by clicking here!

Here are the lyrics to sing along:

O where are kings and empires now
Of old that went and came?
But, Lord, your Church is praying yet,
A thousand years the same.

We mark her goodly battlements
And her foundations strong;
We hear within the solemn voice
Of her unending song.

For not like kingdoms of the world
Your holy Church, O God,
Though earthquake shocks are threatening her,
And tempests are abroad,

Unshaken as eternal hills,
Immovable she stands,
A mountain that shall fill the earth,
A house not made by hands.

Lyrics by Arther Cleveland Coxe, 1818-1896 
New music © Stacey Plays Hymns 2026.

I read all these comments here and there on social media about how it's too bad that we don't sing hymns anymore, and how the old lyrics are just so full of rich meaning, educational theology, and depth that matters to the growth and strength of believers, but when I have time I stop and comment (because of all YOU!) that I really do think that the old hymns are coming back! How else can you explain 30,000 subscribers? (39,000 if you include Ethereal Hymns, my side channel). Thanks to you, the beautiful old hymns, both very well known and so rare that sometimes my recording is the only one that exists on Spotify or even the whole internet - these songs are being kept alive and shared with others who also appreciate them. So thank you from the bottom of my heart, and as always keep the suggestions coming! I have a long list of hymns to do at this point but if I get extra requests for a certain one I do move it up on the list! In the mean time, I wish you a wonderful day and as always, keep singing!

Here's a “Best of” playlist on Spotify, and “All the Best So Far” on Youtube. Also on Apple Music and most streaming platforms - just look up Stacey Plays Hymns! 

"Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life" is a really beautiful and powerful hymn to pray for revival and God's peace for our world, which has never been more in need of righteousness and mercy. Let us use the words of this hymn, many of which were written hundreds of years ago, to pray for God's will for our nations, and for His mercy in these troubled times! "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34 NKJV

Save this song on your favourite streaming platform to listen to later, if you like!

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound! This is the most well known hymn of all time, perhaps, and there are tens of thousands of versions out there already, and yet it just grew into this new melody that I had to record. I still plan on recording the original version at some point but it's a rather intimidating song to tackle when so many better than I have done it already. In the mean time, please enjoy this newly imagined version done in a cinematic, ethereal style that sounds like angels in the heavens!

If you like this style please follow World Without End on your favourite streaming platform, because it will be mostly kept separate from my main traditional hymn project here. I occasionally post these songs here in case a few people like it and might want to share with a friend or family member who might not be so familiar with or likely to listen to the old hymns in a traditional style. You can listen on your favourite streaming platform here or watch the cinematic lyric video:  

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!

Lyrics by Isaac Newton. New melody and music © Stacey Plays Hymns / World Without End 2026. All rights reserved.

So happy to share this new recording of the classic praise hymn, “Rejoice, the Lord is King”, found in hundreds of beloved hymnals. This uplifting song is wonderful to sing every day but especially on Sunday, rejoicing and praising the Lord. Listen to it on your favourite streaming platform here or watch the beautiful lyric video:

Holy, Holy, Holy (my World Without End Version with a new melody) is special song for Trinity Sunday or praise all year round, and is a new release from my side project "World Without End", a collection of recordings that are mostly old hymns from the Book of Common Prayer and other old hymnals I have collected, but set to a bit of a more modern style. 

If you like this style please follow World Without End on your favourite streaming platform, because it will be mostly kept separate from my main traditional hymn project here. I occasionally post these songs here in case a few people like it and might want to share with a friend or family member who might not be so familiar with or likely to listen to the old hymns in a traditional style. You can listen on your favourite streaming platform here or watch the cinematic lyric video:  

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee,
Who was and is and evermore shall be.

3. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in power and love and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

Lyrics by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

New melody and music © Stacey Plays Hymns / World Without End 2026. All rights reserved.

Come Down O Love Divine (World Without End Version) is special song for Pentecost from my side project "World Without End", a collection of recordings that are mostly old hymns from the Book of Common Prayer and other old hymnals I have collected, but set to a bit of a more modern style. If you like this style please follow World Without End on your favourite streaming platform, because it will be mostly kept separate from my main traditional hymn project here. I just wanted to share this song here in case a few people like it, and might want to share with a friend or family member who might not be so familiar with or prone to listen to the old hymns in a traditional style. You can listen on your favourite streaming platform here or watch the cinematic lyric video:
 

1 Come down, O Love divine, 
seek thou this soul of mine, 
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing; 
O Comforter, draw near, 
within my heart appear, 
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing. 

2 O let it freely burn, 
till earthly passions turn 
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; 
and let thy glorious light 
shine ever on my sight, 
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming. 

3 And so the yearning strong, 
with which the soul will long, 
shall far outpass the power of human telling; 
for none can guess its grace, 
till Love create a place 
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Lyrics by Bianca da Siena, translated by Richard Frederick Littledale. 

New melody and music © Stacey Plays Hymns / World Without End 2026. All rights reserved.

This beautiful hymn about the beauty of God's creation is one of the most uplifting, cheerful hymns that exists! This video has the rustling grass (where I hear Him pass), the lilies, the expansive mountain ranges, and so many other views of the amazing landscapes and works God has made. The music is by Maltbie D. Babcock and is particularly classic and beautiful - hope you enjoy singing along! 

For permission to use this video in a church service please click here, and if you enjoyed this rendition of this classic hymn, consider saving it or some of my other songs to your favourite Sunday or Inspirational playlist on Spotify or Apple Music to listen again in the future and help these songs reach more people. Even if your playlist has even just two likes, it does actually help so much with the song getting heard by others, and also makes my day to see that people are enjoying it in their everyday lives. 

Listen to the stunningly beautiful lyric video here - so full of all the beauty of God's creation!

Lyrics - This is My Father's World

1 This is my Father's world,
And to my list'ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world,
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is my Father's world,
The birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world,
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me ev'rywhere.

3 This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
The battle is not done;
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.
 

"Like a River Glorious" is one of the most comforting and peaceful hymns that reminds us of God's comfort and help in time of need! Sing along to this beautiful old hymn along with believers all over the world and take a moment of faith to bring peace and joy to a busy day!

You can also enjoy the full hymn album by clicking here - all 21 songs!

The lyrics are slightly adapted - read them here:

Like a river, glorious,
Is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious,
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth,
Fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth,
Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, 
finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow
Of His blessed hand,
Daily may we follow
All that He has planned
Since our God be for us
Let us onward go 
Pray for peace and justice
Let His mercy flow

Every joy or sorrow
That may come our way
Every glad tomorrow,
Every good today
We may trust Him fully
Every day anew
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.