O Perfect Love

By Dorothy F. Gurney

Lyrics

1. O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one.

2. O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death.

3. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life.

Bible Reference

1 John 4:18

About This Hymn

"O Perfect Love" is a Christian hymn especially associated with weddings and the theme of lifelong commitment. Written in 1883 by Dorothy Frances Gurney, an English poet and hymn writer, it was originally composed for the marriage of her sister. The request was made by her sister’s fiancé, who wanted a hymn that could be sung to the tune of Strength and Stay by John Bacchus Dykes. In response, Gurney penned words that captured the purity, constancy, and divine blessing of true Christian love within marriage.

The hymn opens with an invocation for God’s blessing on the couple, asking for love that reflects the perfect love of Christ. It emphasizes patience, faithfulness, and unity, qualities that are not dependent solely on human effort but are sustained by God’s grace. The imagery of the hymn connects the joys and trials of married life with the spiritual journey of discipleship, making it both a prayer for the wedding day and a guide for the years that follow.

Musically, the pairing with Dykes’ tune gave the text a stately and reverent character, well-suited for the solemnity of a wedding service. Over time, "O Perfect Love" became one of the most popular hymns for Christian marriage ceremonies across English-speaking churches. Its prayerful tone and scriptural basis resonate with the belief that marriage is a covenant reflecting Christ’s relationship with His church.

Even today, the hymn continues to be sung at weddings and anniversaries, its enduring appeal lying in its blend of heartfelt devotion and biblical vision of love that is steadfast, holy, and enduring to life’s end.