Here Is Love

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Here Is Love

This page includes a lyric video, history, sheet music, and other resources for the classic hymn “Here Is Love.” Enjoy!

Here Is Love

Enjoy this You Tube video, performed by Phatfish, with lyrics for “Here Is Love”:

History of “Here Is Love”

Words by William Rees (1802-1883), Published mid-1800s

William Rees (1802-1883)

William Rees’ only formal education was during the winter months at the local village school. From an early age, he spent most of his time working on the family farm in Wales — mainly as a shepherd. Despite the obligations of the farm, William had a love of learning and was self-educated in many subjects.

William was also a committed Christian and a gifted communicator. In 1828, he joined an Independent church (a Christian church that was not part of the state church). It was not long before he was invited to preach, and over the course of the next decade, William became famous for his preaching. In 1843, William moved to Liverpool to pastor, and he remained there for over 30 years (until he retired in 1875).

William also founded a newspaper in Liverpool. According to Hymnary.org, “It was the first successful Welsh newspaper, and it was his series, ‘The Letters of an Old Farmer,’ which breathed life into it. These were written in the dialect of the editor’s home county and dealt with such subjects as religion, politics, [and law].”¹ William had a keen interest in politics and even pleaded for the abolition of slavery in the US.

As a prolific writer, William wrote on a variety of topics: hymns, plays, politics, sermons, and Christian doctrine. Of his many beautiful hymns, “Here is Love” is a special gem. It came to be known as “The Love Song of the Revival” because it was used so often during the 1904 evangelistic outreaches in Wales. Thousands of people came to faith during the 1904 Revival, and it is thought to have triggered revivals in many surrounding countries. The tune was introduced to English speakers when William Edwards translated it from Welsh to English in 1900.

Tune “Here Is Love” by Robert Lowry (1826-1899), Published in 1876

Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia in 1826. As a teen, he was active in teaching Sunday school, as well as serving in the choir of his church. For college, Robert attended the University at Lewisburg, PA (now Bucknell University), and he graduated with the highest honors. He began working as a pastor, as well as a professor of literature.

According to the Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers:

“Dr. Lowry was a man of rare administrative ability, a most excellent preacher, a thorough Bible student, and whether in the pulpit or upon the platform, always a brilliant and interesting speaker. He was of a genial and pleasing disposition, and a high sense of humor was one of his most striking characteristics. Very few men had greater ability in painting pictures from the imagination. He could thrill an audience with his vivid descriptions, inspiring others with the same thoughts that inspired him.”

While preaching was Robert’s main work for many years, he always had a deep love of music. In time, he began dedicating more effort to music and by the end of his life, he had written dozens of popular hymns and tunes such as: “Christ Arose (Low in the Grave He Lay),” “I Need Thee Every Hour,” “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” “Shall We Gather at the River?, and “We’re Marching to Zion.”

Lyrics for “Here Is Love”:

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.