At Sonshine, we love stories that blend faith, history, and creativity, and The First Hymn is exactly that. Recently on Table Talk, Doug had the chance to chat with Professor John Dickson, historian and director of this brand-new documentary.
This powerful new film explores the origins of what is believed to be the earliest known Christian hymn, complete with lyrics and musical notation. It’s a song that predates all denominations and offers a rare glimpse into the heart of early Christian worship.
A Hymn Lost (and Found) in Time
The story begins in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, where, over a century ago, British archaeologists uncovered thousands of ancient papyrus documents. Among them was something extraordinary: a Greek manuscript containing not only the words of a hymn but also the melody.
“That’s the cool thing about this,” John said. “We not only know what they sang, we know exactly how they sang it.”
While about 20% of the hymn’s opening is missing, the rest survives, including a beautiful climax that celebrates the Trinity and describes God as “the only giver of all good gifts.”
Bringing Ancient Worship to Life
Although the manuscript has been known to scholars for some time, no one had yet attempted to bring it to life, until now.
John, who holds a PhD in ancient history and is fluent in ancient Greek, translated the original text into English. Then, in an inspired collaboration, he brought in Ben Fielding from Hillsong and Christian musician Chris Tomlin, two of the most respected names in contemporary worship music.
“We didn’t just want to revive the song as a museum piece,” John explained. “We wanted to make it something that could be sung and understood by people today.”
Working remotely between Sydney and Nashville, Ben and Chris exchanged musical ideas before joining forces in studio to craft a modern arrangement of the original hymn. The result? A worship song that’s ancient in origin but fresh and powerful in sound.
Worship That Unites
More than just a musical milestone, The First Hymn holds a deeper message about unity in the Church.
“This is Christianity before there were denominations,” John said. “Before the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. It’s a picture of the original, core Christian faith—focused on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
He hopes the song becomes a symbol of unity, something all believers can rally around as a shared expression of worship and heritage.
From Manuscript to Music Video
The documentary itself is as much a journey as the song. It follows the historical trail from Egypt to Oxford, delves into the scholarly detail behind the hymn, and captures the songwriting and recording process, including a powerful live performance in front of 10,000 people in Texas.
“I think documenting the whole process is what makes this so special,” I told John—and he agreed.
Coming Soon to Cinemas
The First Hymn is set to arrive in cinemas for a limited release from 31st July. Whether you’re a lover of history, a worship leader, or someone curious about the roots of Christian faith, this film is not to be missed.
You can view the trailer here.
Want to hear the full conversation with Professor John Dickson? Listen in below.