Beyond our Dreaming

Educated at Cambridge University, Timothy Dudley-Smith was ordained in 1950 as assistant curate of St Paulâs Church, Northumberland Heath. From 1953 he was head of the Cambridge University Mission in Bermondsey, London, and in the 1960s served as secretary of the Church Pastoral Aid Society. In 1973 he became Archdeacon of Norwich and in 1981 Bishop of Thetford; he retired in 1991. He is a Fellow of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada, and in 2003 was appointed an honorary vice-president of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland. In the same year he was awarded an OBE for services to hymnody.

Most eloquent ... These hymns have a remarkable way of pin-pointing exactly what the believer feels ... [they] have memorable words, superb phrases, and a progression through the verse which is entirely satisfying ... They are contemporary because they are timeless.

• A glory fills the midnight sky ; All that she could, she did for love of Christ ; Almighty God, our prayer is still ; Be with me through this day ; Behold us here, our Father and our God ; Come, learn of God's kingdom, the kingdom of light ; Come, let us tune our souls to sing ; Consider him, our Saviour Christ ; Down from the windows, the windows of heaven ; Father of lights, the blaze of noon ; Forsake the courts of heaven ; Glorious praise to God be given ; How shall we sing salvation's song ; How vast is God's unfailing love ; Immortal God, can mortal praise ; King Jesus had for palace ; Lord Christ, the crucified ; Love is the law that Jesus taught ; Make of our life a house of praise ; Numbered among the dead ; O God of strength and splendour ; O God who gave the living word ; O Lord, to whom all hearts are known ; Our God be praised, and on his Name be blessing ; Praise Him who with a master's hand ; The hour has come, foretold since time began ; The humble hold your kingdom's key ; The name of the Lord ; There on the hill, behold beyond the city ; Truth of God to teach us ; What are the praises earth can render heaven? ; What love is this that God bestows ; When Christ was raised from death ; With praise and high thanksgiving ; Word of wisdom, truth bestowing ; You told us 'Ask'