Here is Love Vast as the Ocean is undoubtedly one of the greatest hymns ever written. For many Christians it communicates the essence of Christianity perfectly.

But what’s the story behind the hymn? And when was it written? Let’s look at some of the lyrics and explore. The hymn begins with these words;

“Here is love, vast as the ocean,
loving kindness as the flood:
when the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
throughout heav’n’s eternal days.”

The above lyrics are an English translation by William Edwards. The original hymn was written by welsh poet, and minister William Rees of Llansannan. Rees was born in 1802 and today a memorial stands near the village church.

In his hometown William Rees was raised a Calvinistic Methodist and as a boy he worked as a shepherd on a farm. He was educated at the local village school during the winter months and he would also educated himself. Later he became involved in a local independent chapel and began preaching and was appointed minister at Mostyn in 1831 and Swan Lane in 1837. He became quite famous for his preaching, and in 1847 his hymn “Dyma gariad fel y moroed” (Here is Love) and was first published. Amidst growing popularity Rees moved to Liverpool and eventually to Chester where he died on 8 November, 1883.

Rees was not only a preacher but a very influential person in welsh politics. He was also the publisher of Yr Amserau (“The Times”) a journal printed in Liverpool. Rees was also in favour of the disestablishment of the church in Wales, views which no doubt contributed to the popularity of his hymn in during the welsh revivals of 1904-1905.

I have visited Llansannan many times and I find it a pleasant yet unsophisticated rural area. I also filmed in the area for my documentary on William Salesbury. Both Salesbury and Rees have Llansannan in common and for this reason I included my instrumental version of the hymn among the opening scenes of my film. For me, the lyrical depths of his hymn demonstrate how accurately he understood the message of Christianity. God is love and His love is vast as the ocean. Yet it cannot be ignored, his use of the ocean as a metaphor has many implications to it. To describe the love of God as being vast as the ocean, is to imply there is something to be feared. As great and vast as the ocean is many have perished in its waves. I have spent many days and hours of years in Wales and it is dominated by its glorious coastline. As a singer-songwriter I am aware how composers interpret the world they live into a lyrical art flow of poetic splendour. I believe the North Wales coast served as the source of illustration for this great hymn and have no doubt that Rees sat along the seafront and reimagined what it all means in light of the love of God. As vast as the ocean is, to journey upon it has been the destruction of many. Yet at the same time, it provides great pleasure, and food for all and helps nation meet nation.

Back in the Biblical times the ocean was one of main ways St Paul reached the gentiles. Yet like so many in the ancient Greco Roman world, he too faced shipwreck. He suffered a great deal for the cause of the gospel. There is no escaping it, life in Christ is both a joy and a conflict at the same time. Rather like the ocean, I admire its breathtaking eternity, yet I do not deny its power. I do not deny that many have taken a voyage upon the ocean, only to find themselves shipwrecked and lifeless at the bottom of the abyss.

I wonder if you think that love vast as the ocean means that because God loves us all, life is all smooth sailing from now on? In his hymn Rees makes a number of references to the “flood” and “fountains open deep and wide”, “floodgates” and “mighty rivers” all of which reflect North Wales in some sense. Likewise he also mentions the pain God in Christ endured to save us “on the mount of crucifixion”. Probably the most horrific and torturous method of execution in the Roman world.

These lyrics reflect the mystery of suffering. Of which some take the viewpoint that if God exists and cares for us, why does suffering exist? I would respond that it is because suffering exists God exists. We cannot have joy without pain. We cannot have goodness without evil. We cannot have light without darkness. As the sea exists so shipwrecks must exist. Suffering is love vast as the ocean, and I say this because God demonstrated His love by sending Christ to suffer and die for us, in our place. As the hymn says,

“Here is love, vast as the ocean,
loving kindness as the flood:
when the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
shed for us His precious blood.”