Quick: name the four most popular hymns in Anglicanism as measured by their inclusion in the 52 hymnbooks published around the world in the 19th century?
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Thee? Yup.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing? Absolutely.
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending? Check.
And All Praise to Thee, my God, This Night.
That's pretty good company to be in. But while Thomas Ken's gem is certainly lesser known, it is a remarkably profound and beautiful set of prayers designed for the eveningtime. As such, it points toward a different type of devotional spirituality than most evangelicals know, one that is rooted in the daily rhythms of morning and evening prayer.
"Devotional spirituality" is the right word there, especially for Thomas Ken. As an Anglican bishop, he was well acquainted with the structure of the Anglican liturgies. In fact, one of his major contributions to Anglican church life was an exposition on the catechism appropriately titled, The Practice of Divine Love, where the words to "All Praise to Thee" are set within guidance for how to pray throughout the day.
And it's worth noting that there are twelve verses in that version, at least five more verses than are generally sung today.
As a hymnwriter, Ken has largely been forgotten, except for one hymn which we know as the Doxology, a beautifully simplistic Trinitarian adoration that Ken found so good he stuck it at the end of many of his other hymns, including this one.
As for the music, it's traditionally set to Thomas Tallis' Canon, a lovely piece which can be heard here.
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