The Story Behind 'How Great Thou Art': A Hymn of Awe and Wonder
Carl Boberg had recently quit his job as a sailor and begun working as a lay minister in his native Sweden. He would later go on to become a newspaper editor and a member of the Swedish Parliament. In 1885, inspired by the sound of church bells ringing during a wild thunderstorm, he penned the poem “O Great God.”
Boberg described the moment of inspiration: "It was in 1885, during a time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest coloring; the birds were singing in the trees and wherever they could find a perch. On a particular afternoon, some friends and I had attended a service in Kronobäck. As we were returning, a thunderstorm began to brew on the horizon. We hurried to find shelter. There were loud claps of thunder, and lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. However, the storm was soon over, and a clear sky appeared with a beautiful rainbow."
"After reaching my home, I opened my window toward the sea. The church bells were playing the tune of a hymn. That same evening, I wrote a poem which I titled, 'O Store Gud' (How Great Thou Art)."
Carl Boberb - August 16, 1859 - January 7, 1940
Initially, Boberg’s nine-verse poem didn't gain much attention and seemed destined to be forgotten. However, three years later, someone matched the words of the poem to a traditional Swedish melody. When Boberg found out, he quickly republished the poem in his own newspaper in 1891, this time with musical notation.
Remarkably, this poem set to music traveled across borders, from Russia to India. In the early 1930s, an English missionary named Stuart Hine heard the song in Russian while doing ministry in Poland. Deeply moved, he decided to translate it into English, taking some liberties with the wording. He brought the song home to England, where it became known as "How Great Thou Art."
The story of “How Great Thou Art” might have ended there, if not for a singing cowboy and popular American evangelist, George Beverly Shea. While on a mission trip in India, Shea heard the song and brought it back to the United States, where he sang it during Billy Graham’s traveling crusades. Graham loved the song, and it soon became the signature hymn of his crusades.
Here is a YouTube video of George Bernard Shaw singing at a crusade and joined with a choir.
Then came Elvis. Although other popular artists like Tennessee Ernie Ford and Loretta Lynn recorded versions before him, Elvis’s renditions—his more restrained studio version from 1967 and his slightly looser live version from 1974, both of which earned him Grammys—are generally considered the definitive versions against which all others are compared.
Carl Boberg would never know the influence of his poem. He died in 1940, over a decade before “How Great Thou Art” gained fame at the Billy Graham crusade in New York City. Like Carl Boberg, we may never know which of our words or actions will influence not only the people around us but possibly people living in the next century. But we can be sure that in some way, large or small, they will leave a lasting impact.
I have been doing a Hymn Study this week for my Facebook group, Artist Summer Camp 2024, and this is a few images of my “hymn” art journal.
Reflect on these questions:
When Carl Boberg wrote "How Great Thou Art," he was inspired by the beauty and power of nature. How has God's creation inspired your own faith journey? Are there specific moments in nature that have drawn you closer to God?
The hymn speaks of God’s greatness in creation and redemption. In what ways have you experienced God’s greatness in your own life? How does reflecting on His majesty impact your relationship with Him?
"How Great Thou Art" has touched countless lives across different cultures and generations. What are some ways your faith or actions might leave a lasting impact on others, even those you may never meet?
Consider the thunderstorm that inspired Carl Boberg to write this hymn. How have the storms in your life—whether literal or metaphorical—helped you see God's power and love more clearly? How did those experiences shape your understanding of God's greatness?
Elvis Presley’s rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is one of the most well-known versions of the hymn. How has music, whether this hymn or another, played a role in deepening your faith or bringing you comfort in challenging times?
