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For All the Saints

For all the saints who from their labors rest

For All the Saints is a hymn text by William Walsham How (1864) in 10.10.10 with alleluias meter. Found in CW21 880, CW93 551, ELH 554, elw 422. Sung to SINE NOMINE.

The great All Saints hymn, celebrating the communion of saints across time. The text moves from the saints who have died to the living church's participation in their victory, culminating in the vision of the city of God. The tune SINE NOMINE (meaning 'without a name') is a quintessentially English processional.

History & Background

Written by William Walsham How (1823-1897), Bishop of Wakefield, in 1864. Originally written for All Saints Day. The tune SINE NOMINE was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) specifically for this text in 1906.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 880
  • Christian Worship — 551
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 554
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 422
  • Gather 4th Edition — 971
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 174
  • Lutheran Service Book — 677
  • Lutheran Worship — 191
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 463

Bulletin Note

For All the Saints — William Walsham How, 1864

Preaching Connection

All Saints Sunday — the communion of saints and the hope of resurrection.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From saints' earthly rest through Christ's sustaining power to eschatological glory and eternal communion

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

William Walsham How (1823–1897), then rector of Whittington, Shropshire. First printed in Earl Nelson's Hymn for Saints' Days, and Other Hymns (1864), without music. It had 11 three-line stanzas with Alleluia, headed by Hebrews 12:1 ('so great a cloud of witnesses'). The 'all saints' are all the faithful departed, not a special class, which fits the Lutheran reading. Stanzas for apostles, evangelists and martyrs were later dropped. Barnby's SARUM (1869) was the tune until Vaughan Williams's SINE NOMINE in The English Hymnal (1906); the name means 'without a name', possibly honouring the unnamed saints. How, from a solicitor's family in Shrewsbury, spent his ministry in rural parishes and London's East End, where he was known as the 'children's bishop'. The LSB study notes that the three stanzas reflecting the Te Deum are traditionally omitted, leaving eight.

Sources: hymnologyarchive.com 'For all the saints'; LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (study by Shawn L. Kumm).

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: All Saints

Suggested in the one-year series

  • All Saints (7×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • All Saints (9×)
  • Proper 7 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Themes

Communion of Saints Death and Resurrection All Saints Hope

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