How many hymns could you play in a weekend? St Gregory's Church, Marnhull is about to find out.
From Friday 19 June until Sunday 21 June, the church will host the Great Hymnathon Challenge – an extraordinary musical marathon in which all 847 hymns in the Ancient and Modern hymnbook will be played continuously over the course of a single weekend.
Beginning on Friday morning and continuing day and night, the challenge is expected to take around 34 hours of playing time and will involve playing over 100,000 bars of hymn tunes. The event will transform St Gregory's into a place of music, reflection and celebration as hymns familiar and forgotten fill the church from dawn until dusk – and beyond.
The idea grew from a simple question: how many of the hymns sitting in the hymnbook ever get sung? While most congregations regularly enjoy only a small proportion of their hymnbook, the Great Hymnathon will give every hymn an opportunity to be heard, from much-loved classics such as Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer and Jerusalem to lesser-known treasures that have not echoed through the church for many years.
Visitors are welcome to drop in at any point during the marathon. Whether for five minutes or several hours, everyone is invited to experience this unique musical journey through more than two centuries of Christian hymnody. Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available, and there will be opportunities to sponsor hymns in support of church funds.
The event also includes a public vote for favourite hymns. Members of the community are being invited to choose the hymns that mean the most to them. The five most popular selections will be featured during a special All-Age Worship Service at 10.00am on Sunday 21 June, bringing the Hymnathon to a joyful conclusion.
Category: Community | Religion and Spirituality | Religion
Date and Time: On Friday June 19, 2026 at 9:00 pm to Sunday June 21, 2026 at 11:00 am
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