Shine Jesus Shine tops poll of favourite assembly hymns

Big School Assembly singalong
Aled Jones (L), James B Partridge (C) and Kate Bottley (R). (Photo: BBC)

The popular church song Shine Jesus Shine is also a hit at school assemblies, according to the findings of a Songs of Praise poll. 

The BBC show asked people to vote for their favourite school assembly hymn and thousands of people responded. 

Shine Jesus Shine, by Graham Kendrick, took the top spot followed by the older classics Give Me Oil in My Lamp in second place, and Lord of the Dance in third.

The results were unveiled by presenter Aled Jones and Church of England priest Kate Bottley during the BBC's recent Big School Assembly Singalong broadcast from Victoria Hall, Bolton.

They were joined by James B Partridge, who has gone viral on TikTok with his renditions of school assembly hymns. 

Other favourites in the top 20 were All Things Bright and Beautiful in fourth place, One More Step (6th), He's Got the Whole World (9th), Morning Has Broken (11th), This Little Light of Mine (17th) and Go Tell it on the Mountain (20th). 

The results were also posted on social media, with lots of people sharing their memories and some saying it had brought tears to their eyes. 

"Really enjoyed the programme. Some wonderful memories of school assembly," said one person. 

Another said, "And I'm immediately transported back to sitting on the mat aged 8 at the school assembly. Happy days thank you."

Others noted that many of the songs on the list were from the past and that the singing of hymns is dying out across British schools.

"How many actual school children were involved in 'the nation'? Are any of these sung now? (Ahem, good to see "Lord of the Dance". I am 63.)," wrote one person. 

This prompted Songs of Praise producer David Waters to write a reply to their post clarifying, "It seems a few schools still sing these but not many, our celebration was mainly for people (mostly 35 and over) who cherish these hymns from their schooldays.

"It certainly seems to have brought back great memories. Hopefully more children will come to them too," he said. 

Another person posted, "Fantastic pity these assembly songs stopped."

Shine Jesus Shine was released by Kendrick in 1987 and is still regularly sung in churches today. 

Announcing the winner of the Songs of Praise poll, Aled Jones called it a "hymn of hope". 

News
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame

Over 323,000 people have signed a petition in opposition to new stained-glass window designs for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God
Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God

Rapper Nicki Minaj opened up about her recently reignited relationship with God and what inspired her to speak out for persecuted Christians, suggesting that her rise in the music industry made it more challenging to maintain the spirituality of her youth. 

Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events
Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events

The Christian Institute has initiated legal proceedings against Keir Starmer in a bid to end civil service participation in controversial Pride marches. 

National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £7.3 million to help maintain four historic churches.