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Shine, Jesus, Shine, also known as Lord, the Light of Your Love, is a Christian praise song written by Graham Kendrick in 1987. The song has been referred to as a Catholic hymn and was voted tenth in a 2005 survey of the United Kingdom's favourite hymns by the BBC's Songs of Praise programme. The song has been used to evoke hope at various memorial services and was sung by children in the Philippines during Pope Francis' departure in 2015.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Hymn | Shine, Jesus, Shine |
| Other Names | Lord, the Light of Your Love |
| Writer | Graham Kendrick |
| Year | 1987 |
| Genre | Christian praise song |
| Awards | Dove Award (1995) |
| Notable Performances | Pope Francis' departure from the Philippines in 2015 |
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What You'll Learn
'Shine, Jesus, Shine' is a Christian praise song
"Shine, Jesus, Shine", also known as "Lord, the Light of Your Love", is a Christian praise song written by Graham Kendrick in 1987. Kendrick, a native of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, England, is the son of a Baptist pastor and is one of the most prolific British Christian singer-songwriters and worship leaders. He began writing songs in the early 1970s and today has over 30 albums and 400 songs to his credit. His songs, including "Shine, Jesus, Shine", are sung throughout the world in many languages.
The song was voted tenth in a 2005 survey of the United Kingdom's favourite hymns by the BBC's Songs of Praise programme. However, it has also been called "the most loathed of all happy-clappy hymns" by Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald. The song's chorus is similar to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", and it has been used to evoke joy and hope at several memorial services.
The first stanza of "Shine, Jesus, Shine" focuses on the light "shining in the midst of the darkness" and Christ as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12). This Light "sets us free by the truth" (John 8:32). The second stanza reflects on coming before Christ's "awesome presence", where "the shadows turn into your radiance". Christ's brightness "consumes all my darkness".
The final stanza of the hymn concludes with a petition: "May our lives tell your story". This line is a fleeting paraphrase of Charles Wesley's famous hymn, "Love divine, all loves excelling". It also includes the line "Ever-changing from glory to glory", reflecting on how Christ's brightness may be reflected in our lives: "As we gaze on your kingly brightness / So our faces display your likeness".
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The song was written by Graham Kendrick in 1987
"Shine, Jesus, Shine", also known by its first line, "Lord, the Light of Your Love", is a Christian praise song written in 1987 by Graham Kendrick. It is considered an Old Catholic Jesus Song. The song was voted the tenth favourite hymn in the United Kingdom in a 2005 survey by the BBC's Songs of Praise programme.
Kendrick, born in 1950, is a native of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, England, and now resides in Kent. He is the son of a Baptist pastor and began writing songs in the early 1970s. He is one of the most prolific British Christian singer-songwriters and worship leaders today, with over 30 albums and 400 songs to his credit. His songs are sung worldwide in many languages.
Kendrick wrote the three verses of "Shine, Jesus, Shine" and road-tested it in his home church. However, he felt it was incomplete, so he put it away for several months. When he returned to the song, he realised it needed a chorus. The phrase 'Shine, Jesus, Shine' came to him, and he finished the chorus within about half an hour. The song was then performed with great enthusiasm at Spring Harvest, an annual evangelical conference in Great Britain, in 1987.
Kendrick recorded the hymn in 1988 as the title track of his album "Shine, Jesus, Shine". The congregation sings in unison on the verses and harmony on the refrain in this recording. The song has been recognised as a song of hope and has been performed at memorial services for tragic events, such as the Dunblane and Tasmania massacres.
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The song's chorus is similar to Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline'
"Shine, Jesus, Shine", also known as "Lord, the Light of Your Love", is a Christian praise song written in 1987 by Graham Kendrick. It is considered a Catholic hymn and was voted the tenth favourite hymn in the United Kingdom in a 2005 survey by the BBC's Songs of Praise programme.
The song's chorus bears a resemblance to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline". School children often sing "Bom! Bom! Bom!" to the tune during assemblies. "Sweet Caroline" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond and was released as a single in May 1969. It is a love ballad that has sold over two million digital downloads in the United States as of November 2014. The song has proven to be enduringly popular, with sales surging by nearly 600% in the week after the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013. Diamond donated his royalties from these sales to the One Fund Boston charity.
"Shine, Jesus, Shine" has been used to provide solace during memorial services, such as the Dunblane memorial service for the 16 students and teachers who were killed, and the Tasmania massacre memorial service. The song was also performed for Pope Francis during his departure from the Philippines on 19 January 2015.
Despite its popularity, "Shine, Jesus, Shine" has received criticism. Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, called it "the most loathed of all happy-clappy hymns".
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The song was voted tenth in a 2005 survey of the UK's favourite hymns
"Shine, Jesus, Shine", also known by its first line, "Lord, the Light of Your Love", is a Christian praise song written in 1987 by Graham Kendrick. The song was voted tenth in a 2005 survey of the United Kingdom's favourite hymns by the BBC's Songs of Praise programme.
The song has been recognised as a classic of Christian music history. It has been widely sung around the world and has been used to provide hope at memorial services, such as the 1996 Dunblane memorial service and the Tasmania massacre memorial service. It has also been performed at notable events such as Pope Francis's departure from the Philippines in 2015.
Despite its popularity, "Shine, Jesus, Shine" has also been the subject of criticism. Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, called it "the most loathed of all happy-clappy hymns". Similarly, in his book "50 People Who B*gged Up Britain", newspaper columnist Quentin Letts devoted one of his most scathing chapters to the song's composer, Graham Kendrick, referring to his most popular work as "gloopy nonsense".
The song's bright and triumphant melody and Christ-centred words, along with its huge popularity among evangelical Christians, have made it a target for staunch Catholics, high churchmen, and liberal churchgoers. However, when the song received criticism for its inclusion in the Songs of Praise top 10 hymns poll, Kendrick showed restraint in his response, acknowledging the existence of polarised views and expressing gratitude that the song had not caused significant division.
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The song has been performed at memorial services
"Shine, Jesus, Shine", also known as "Lord, the Light of Your Love", is a Christian praise song written by Graham Kendrick in 1987. It is considered a Catholic hymn and has been performed at several memorial services.
The song was performed at the 1996 Dunblane memorial service for 16 students and a teacher who were killed. It was also sung at the Tasmania massacre memorial service for the 40 victims of a lone gunman. The song's message of hope and light in the midst of darkness can bring comfort and strength to those grieving and mourning.
"Shine, Jesus, Shine" was also sung during the departure of Pope Francis from the Philippines on January 19, 2015. The performance by the children of the Department of Social Welfare and Development staff and students from the Mary Immaculate Parish Special School was meant to evoke World Youth 1995, which was held in the country.
The hymn has had a significant impact on congregational singing and is known for its uplifting message and simple, memorable melody. The song's chorus is particularly well-known and has been noted for its similarity to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", often sung as "Bom! Bom! Bom!" by schoolchildren in assemblies.
Despite its popularity, "Shine, Jesus, Shine" has also faced some criticism. Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, called it "the most loathed of all happy-clappy hymns". Nonetheless, the song has resonated with many people and has been a source of comfort and inspiration, especially during memorial services and challenging times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'Shine, Jesus, Shine' is a Catholic hymn. It is also referred to as a Christian praise song.
The hymn was written by Graham Kendrick in 1987. Kendrick is a British Christian singer-songwriter and worship leader. He is the son of a Baptist pastor and has released over 30 albums.
The lyrics to 'Shine, Jesus, Shine' include: "Lord, the light of Your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness, shining Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us. Set us free by the truth You now bring us, Shine on me, Shine on me."
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