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A selection of children's hymns alluding to the end of earthly life
and the hope that lies beyond.
Here follows a small selection of hymns taken from a number of sources, illustrating how children's hymns formerly undertook to prepare young people for their death and offering the hope of everlasting life in Jesus - a feature much lacking in the children's songs of today. The hymns highlighted here are reproduced as scans from the books in which they appear, for the accompanying illustrations and typography are also indicative of the way in which the faith of young people is viewed. Two versions of Jesus loves me, this I know are reproduced here - firstly the original text, and secondly the version that appears in Junior Praise (Burt, P., Horrobin, P. & Leavers, G. (eds.) 1997). The Junior Praise version is just one example of the modern day tendency to patronise young people with attempts to shield them from the grittier side of life (and ultimately death). Yet if we are not to die then the Christian faith loses its relevance, for it is in death that we are truly reunited with God. In a world full of fear and the horrors of armed conflict, the peace of the afterlife is something we should hold out to our children, not something to be shied away from. Though it is perhaps less common in the west than in previous generations, some children die and for those children facing death or mourning a peer songs that offer the comfort of heaven are especially important.
The songs presented here are shown in alphabetical order and all the relevant referencing details are displayed on the App.ps with the songs.
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