New hymn suggestions to be trialled

14.5.2025 10:00:00 | Church of Sweden | Press release

The Church of Sweden has decided to expand and revise its hymn book. From November 2021 to December 2022, anyone who wished to could send their suggestions for new hymns to a digital mailbox. By the time the mailbox was closed, nearly 9,500 suggestions had been received. Following a selection process, 233 entries are on the shortlist and are now being circulated in 147 parishes and groups of parishes in the Church of Sweden. They will be sung in services of worship and other contexts up until next autumn.

“The material is very varied in terms of themes and musical styles,” says Karin Tillberg, theological secretary at the Central Church Office in Uppsala and convenor of the hymn book coordination group. “There is also a pleasing breadth of composers, both new and established, with young people also represented.”

The suggestions now being circulated have also been recorded by choirs from all over Sweden, and you can listen to these recordings on the Church of Sweden’s website and shortly on Spotify. The Church of Sweden’s website also provides lyrics and music for printing and a list of all the composers. 

“We are excited to see how the material will be received and used,” says Karin Tillberg. “The enthusiasm for new hymns has exceeded our expectations so far. This reflects the strong roots of hymn singing in Sweden, both as a fundamental element of worship and as shared cultural heritage.”

About circulation period
The circulation period during which the new hymn suggestions will be trialled will run from 18 May 2025 to 22 November 2026. All the responses and comments received will then be summarised and incorporated in further work on the hymn book.

About the work on the hymn book
Following decisions by the General Synod in 2016 and 2018, the Church of Sweden has begun work on expanding and revising The Swedish Hymn Book. The work is taking place in two parallel processes: 

• Firstly, producing new hymns.

• Secondly, revising the current hymn book from 1986, including linguistically, theologically and musically.

The main focus at the present time is on the first process: the work on new hymns. There is currently no set date for when a revised hymn book could be put into use.

The final decision on the revised hymn book will be made by the General Synod – the highest decision-making body of the Church of Sweden.

Read more about the work on the hymn book and the suggestions being circulated for comment (in swedish).