How Great Thou Art is a classic Christian hymn praising the majesty of God in creation, salvation through Christ, and the hope of Christ’s return, and it remains one of the most loved worship songs worldwide.

Quick Scoop

What is “How Great Thou Art”?

  • A Christian hymn originally based on the Swedish poem “O Store Gud” (“O Great God”) written in 1885 by minister Carl Boberg.
  • The well‑known English version was adapted and translated by missionary Stuart K. Hine around 1949.
  • It became especially famous through Billy Graham crusades in the 1950s, where soloist George Beverly Shea and song leader Cliff Barrows used it repeatedly.

Key themes of the hymn

  • Creation: The song marvels at stars, thunder, forests, mountains, and gentle breezes as signs of God’s power in the universe.
  • Redemption: Verses reflect on God “not sparing His Son,” Christ’s death on the cross, and the removal of sin.
  • Hope of Christ’s return: The final verse anticipates Christ’s coming, the believer’s joy, and worship in humble adoration.

Brief origin story

  • Boberg was reportedly inspired after being caught in a dramatic thunderstorm in Sweden that quickly gave way to calm skies, birdsong, and church bells, which stirred him to write the original poem.
  • The poem was soon set to a Swedish folk tune and appeared in hymnals by the late 1880s and early 1890s.
  • Over decades, translations and adaptations (including Hine’s English text) spread across Europe and then the English‑speaking world.

Popularity and influence

  • “How Great Thou Art” has consistently ranked near the top of “favorite hymn” lists, often second only to “Amazing Grace.”
  • It has been sung in major evangelistic campaigns, televised worship programs, and royal and national events, helping cement its place in modern hymnody.
  • Numerous artists and church choirs continue to record it, sometimes updating the language slightly while keeping the core message intact.

Mini timeline (HTML table)

[5] [5] [5] [1][3][5] [8][6][5]
Year / Period Event
1885–1886 Carl Boberg writes and publishes the Swedish poem “O Store Gud.”
1888–1891 Poem matched with a Swedish folk tune and printed with music in Swedish hymn collections.
Early–mid 1900s Stuart K. Hine develops the widely used English version “How Great Thou Art.”
1950s Popularized internationally through Billy Graham crusades, sung frequently by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows.
2000s–2020s Remains a staple hymn in churches and recordings, often appearing on lists of all‑time favorite hymns.

Why it still resonates today

  • The language is vivid yet simple, helping people connect natural beauty, personal faith, and future hope into one act of worship.
  • Its memorable melody and powerful chorus (“Then sings my soul… how great Thou art”) encourage congregational singing and personal reflection alike.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.