All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

The Story Behind All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Edward Perronet was born in Sundridge, England, in 1726 and died in Canterbury in 1792. His family came from the Huguenots of Switzerland, and according to The UM Hymnal editor Carlton Young, “was closely associated with and esteemed by the Wesleys.”  

The lyrics of this hymn, originally eight verses, were written by Edward Perronet in 1779. The first title was "On the Resurrection, the Lord is King". Only the first verse was originally published in the Gospel Magazine in November 1779 anonymously. All eight verses were later published in the April 1780 issue and were accompanied by an acrostic poem that spelled out Edward Perronet, revealing the author.  Edward Perronet was ordained into the Anglican Church but eventually deferred to the evangelical movement of John and Charles Wesley.

The popularity of this late-18th-century hymn may be partially explained by the fact it is included in hymnals with as many as three different musical arrangements: CORONATION, DIADEM and MILES’ LANE. Each tune reflects a different cultural and denominational context in which this hymn is sung. 

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