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1 O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one.
2 O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death.
3 Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life.
Psalter Hymnal, 1987
First Line: | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending |
Author: | Dorothy F. Gurney (1883) |
Meter: | 11.10.11.10 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Liturgical Use: | Prayer Songs |
After about 15 minutes I came back with the hymn, "O Perfect Love," and there and then we all sang it to the tune of "O Strength and Stay." . . . The writing of it was no effort whatever after the initial idea came to me of the two-fold aspect of a perfect union, love and life, and I have always felt that God helped me to write it.The text was published in the 1889 Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern with a reference to Ruth 1:17. Because of its use at the wedding of Princess Louise and the Duke of Fife that same year, it gained much popularity. Thereafter its place in many hymnals and at many weddings was assured. "O Perfect Love" is a prayer that Christ's love and life may infuse a wedding couple's new life together. The text, however, would be stronger if it contained a direct address to God or Christ in more customary biblical terms. In 1897, several years after her sister's wedding, Dorothy Blomfield also married. She and her husband, Gerald Gurney, were both children of Anglican clergymen. Initially an actor, Gerald was later ordained in the Church of England. But in 1919 Gerald and Dorothy joined the Roman Catholic community at Farnborough Abbey. Dorothy Gurney wrote several volumes of verse, including A Little Book of Quiet, which contained the once well-known poem "God's Garden." Liturgical Use: Weddings (sparingly); renewal of wedding vows in family services with a marriage renewal emphasis. --Psalter Hymnal Handbook
In 1883, Dorothy Blomfield Gurney's sister was engaged to be married. Her favorite hymn tune was John B. Dyke's STRENGTH AND STAY, but its text, St. Ambrose's “O Strength and Stay,” was a funeral hymn and therefore unsuitable for a wedding. One Sunday evening, she asked Blomfield to write a new text for the tune. Blomfield took a hymnbook into another room and wrote this hymn in about fifteen minutes. She wrote three stanzas on the theme of “the two-fold aspect of a perfect union, love and life” (Psalter Hymnal Handbook, p. 756), which were published in the Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1889 with a reference to Ruth 1:17. A fourth doxological stanza is sometimes added, which is the third stanza of St. Ambrose's hymn, translated by John Ellerton.
Though this hymn was first sung to John B. Dyke's tune STRENGTH AND STAY, it became popular after John Barnby wrote an anthem setting for the text for the wedding of the Duke of Fife and the Princess of Wales in 1889. He reduced the anthem to a hymn tune, which was published with the text in The Hymnal Companion in 1890. It is the tune to which this text is sung almost exclusively. It is named O PERFECT LOVE after the text; alternate names for the tune are FIFE and SANDRINGHAM.
This hymn is suitable for weddings or the renewal of vows, or services where family and marriage are a theme. The tune is popular among arrangers of organ wedding music, as seen in the arrangements in “The Organist's Library, Vol. 51” and the set of five “Variations on O PERFECT LOVE.”
Tiffany Shomsky, Hymnary.org
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Instances (1 - 43 of 43) | Title | First Line | Tune | Tune Key | Author | Meter | Scripture | Date | Subject | Source | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
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African American Heritage Hymnal #520 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | Genesis 2:24 | 2001 | Everlasting Life | ; God | Love and Mercy; Jesus Christ | His Love and Mercy; Marriage | ; Patience | ; Worship and Adoration | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Ambassador Hymnal: for Lutheran worship #386 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love. all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances (Blomfield) Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1994 | Home & Family | ; Marriage | ; Weddings | | ||||||||||
Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #348 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858-1932) | 11 10 11 10 | 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Ephesians 5:21-25 | 2013 | Endurance | ; Future hope | ; God | Love of; Marriage | | ![]() | ||||||||
Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #573a | O perfect love | O perfect love | STRENGTH AND STAY | Dorothy F. Gurney | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #573b | O perfect love | O perfect love | CONSOLATION (FELIX) | Dorothy F. Gurney | 2008 | ||||||||||||
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #512 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy B. Gurney | 11.10.11.10. | Ephesians 3:17 | 1991 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal #600 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1993 | Marriage | | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #544 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | 2000 | ||||||||||||||
Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern #343 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | STRENGTH AND STAY | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:22; Genesis 2:24 | 2000 | Marriage | | ![]() | ||||||||
Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #533a | O perfect love | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 | 2000 | Marriage | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #533b | O perfect love | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | HIGHWOOD | Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 | 2000 | Marriage | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Complete Mission Praise #517 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | 11 10 11 10 | 2000 | |||||||||||||
Hymnal: A Worship Book #624 | O perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | SANDRINGHAM | Dorothy F. B. Gurney | 1992 | <cite>Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern</cite>, 1889 | |||||||||||
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard Edition #280 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | 11 10 11 10 | 1983 | |||||||||||||
Hymns and Psalms: a Methodist and ecumenical hymn book #370 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney | 1983 | ||||||||||||
Hymns for a Pilgrim People: a congregational hymnal #290 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11.10.11.10 | Titus 2:4 | 2007 | Family and Relationships | ; Love | ; Marriage / Wedding | | ![]() | ||||||||
Hymns of Faith #542 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | [O perfect love, all human thought transcending] | John Ellerton; Dorothy F. Gurney | Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:31 | 1980 | Adoration | ; Prayer | Hymns of; Wedding | | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
Hymns of the Saints: Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #368 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Blomfield Gurney, 1858-1932 | Ephesians 5:25-28; Matthew 19:4-6 | 1982 | God's Love | ; Marriage | ; Trust | | ||||||||||
Hymns Old and New: New Anglican #387 | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | 11 10 11 10 | 1996 | |||||||||||||
Lutheran Worship #253 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1848-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1982 | Marriage | | ||||||||||
Moravian Book of Worship #427 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1858-1932; Michael Perry | 11.10.11.10. | Matthew 19:4-6; John 2:1-11; 1 John 4:7-21 | 1995 | Marriage | ; Blessing | ; Marriage and anniversary | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Presbyterian Hymnal: hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs #533 | O Perfect Love | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney | 11.10.11.10 | Matthew 19:4-6 | 1990 | Christian Marriage | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #580 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney | 11 10 11 10 | Matthew 19:4-6; John 2:2; Matthew 19:6; John 2 | 1987 | Family | ; Love | Our Love for Others; Marriage | ; Home | ; Assurance | ; Eternal Life | ; Opening of Worship | | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||
Sing Joyfully #609 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love | [O perfect Love] | Dorothy F. Gurney; John Ellerton | 1989 | Wedding | | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||||
Singing the Faith #605 | O perfect Love, all human though transcending | O perfect Love, all human though transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1 Corinthians 13:4-13; 1 John 4:7-19; Colossians 2:2; Galatians 5:22; Genesis 24:67; Mark 10:6-9; Matthew 19:4-6 | 2011 | Marriage | | |||||||||
Small Church Music #104 | O perfect Love | O perfect Love | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney | 11.10.11.10 | ![]() | |||||||||||
Small Church Music #1577 | Felix (Consolation) | O perfect Love | FELIX (CONSOLATION) | Dorothy F. Gurney | 11.10.11.10 | ![]() | |||||||||||
Soul-stirring Songs & Hymns (Rev. ed.) #455 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | [O perfect Love, all human thought transcending] | Dorothy F. Gurney | 1989 | Choir and Special | | |||||||||||
The Celebration Hymnal: songs and hymns for worship #458 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy R. Gurney | 11.10.11.10. | 1997 | The Living Church | Family and Relationships | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
The Cyber Hymnal #5272 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||
The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #533 | O Perfect Love | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | SANDRINGHAM | Dorothy F. Gurney; John Ellerton | 11.10.11.10. | 1986 | Christ | Grace, Love and Mercy; Family and Home | ; Father's Day | ; Mother's Day | ; Wedding | | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
The Liturgy of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives #52 | O Perfect Love, all human love transcending | O Perfect Love, all human love transcending | [O Perfect Love, all human love transcending] | Mrs. Dorothy F. Gurney | 1990 | Wedding Ceremony | | Adapted | ||||||||||
The New English Hymnal #320a | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | HIGHWOOD | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1986 | Sacraments and Other Rites | Marriage | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
The New English Hymnal #320b | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | STRENGTH AND STAY | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10 11 10 | 1986 | Sacraments and Other Rites | Marriage | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||
The New National Baptist Hymnal #374 | O Perfect Love, All Human Thought Transcending | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | [O perfect Love, all human thought transcending] | Dorothy F. Gurney (158-1932) | 1994 | ||||||||||||
The United Methodist Hymnal #645 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thoughts transcending | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy B. Gurney | 11 10.11 10 | 1989 | The Sacraments and Rites of the Church | Marriage; Weddings | | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #266 | [O perfect Love, all human thought transcending] | [O perfect Love, all human thought transcending] | PERFECT LOVE | 1991 | |||||||||||||
The Worshiping Church #388 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney | 11.10.11.10. | 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:21; 1 John 4:12 | 1990 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Together in Song: Australian hymn book II #603 | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | O perfect love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11 10.11 10 | 1999 | Marriage | | ||||||||||
Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #722 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney; John Ellerton | 11.10.11.10. | 1990 | Special Topics | Marriage and the Home | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||
Voices United: The Hymn and Worship Book of The United Church of Canada #491 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy Frances Gurney | 11 10 11 10 | 1996 | The Church at Worship | Marriage; Love | ; Holy Thursday | Year A | ![]() | |||||||||
Worship and Rejoice #610 | O Perfect Love | O perfect Love, all human thought transcending | O PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932 | 11.10.11.10. | Ephesians 3:20; Isaiah 55:8; Galatians 5:22; Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 4:12; Romans 8:37-39; Ephesians 5:22; John 14:27 | 2008 | Family & Relationships | | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
生命聖詩 - Hymns of Life, 1986 #506 | 完全的愛,超過人間的思想, (O Perfect Love) | 完全的愛,超過人間的思想, (O Perfect Love) | PERFECT LOVE | Dorothy F.B. Gurney | 1986 | ![]() |