The best primary school assembly bangers ranked in ultimate school hymns top 10

We're taking you right back to your school days with a list of school assembly hymns that are all still very much classics, after news that a primary school bangers themed brunch is coming to Newcastle next year. And this time, we've risking seriously dividing opinion as we're going to rank them from 1 to 10.

Yes, while of course there were times that we’d much rather have been at home than school and the school dinners often left a lot to be desired, there were also plenty of things to enjoy. And a daily occurrence of school life for many children and teachers was of course assembly.

The Come & Praise and With Cheerful Voice hymn books would be taken from trays and carried down to the hall as we got ready to belt out classics like Colours of Day, Give Me Oil in My Lamp and Lord of the Dance.

READ MORE: A primary school bangers bottomless brunch is coming to Newcastle next year

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Interest was sparked school assembly anthems in a big way thanks to comedian Jason Manford recording his favourite hymns, including He's Got The Whole World in His Hands and When I Needed a Neighbour and releasing the megamix as a single back in 2022. And now people are losing their minds about the primary school bangers bottomless brunch in Newcastle.

There is no need for a projector to enjoy our rankings. and sitting cross legged on the floor while you read is optional!

Songs that just missed out include This Light Little of Mine, When I Needed A Neighbour, The Ink is Black and Kumbaya My Lord.

What's your favourite hymn? Let us know if you agree with us in the comments.

1. Give Me Oil In My Lamp

It's a a very tough call, but number 1 on the list has to go to the one you'll probably know it 'Sing Hosanna'.

Like all the others on our list, this hymn has a chorus that once it's in your head, you'll struggle to get it out.

Remember singing about wanting oil in your lamp to keep you burning, praising, loving and serving?

2. Lord of the Dance

A very deserving runner up and a song so popular it went on to be the name of Riverdance star Michael Flatley's globally popular show.

The insanely catchy chorus goes like this...."Dance, then, wherever you may be,

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,

And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he."

*It will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day now, we guarantee*

3. Shine Jesus Shine

Arguably more of a song than a hymn, this one in bronze medal position has quite possibly the most anthemic chorus of the lot. Slowly building through the verse it bursts into "Shine, Jesus, shine. Fill this land with the Father's glory. Blaze, Spirit, blaze. Set our hearts on fire," and all of a sudden we're back at school again!

4. He's Got The Whole World in His Hands

We'll start with the one seen in the video from Bongo's Bingo. It went down a storm when it was played there and is still an absolutely cracking song.

Memorable lyrics include: "He's got my brothers and my sisters in his hands," and "He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands, He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands."

5. Cauliflowers Fluffy

We've got a confession to make with the one at number 5 on our list- we had to use Google to find out what it was actually called.

The clue should have been in its opening "cauliflowers fluffy, cabbages green...strawberries sweeter than any I've seen," but the line we and you most probably remember best is "the broad beans are sleeping in the blankety bed."

6. One More Step Along The World I Go

"And it's from the old I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you." Think that's all we need to say really. Another hymn that is fully deserving of its place on our list.

7. Who Put The Colours in The Rainbow?

And as we all know, the song's title is one of a whole host of questions posed in its lyrics - who put the cold in the snowflake? who made hogs and dogs and fogs? who made bats and rats and cats? being some of the others.

8. Autumn Days

One in peak popularity around Harvest Festival season (who remembers taking a tin or two into school for them?), number 2 on our list is instantly recognisable from its "so I mustn't forget, no I mustn't forget" chorus

Kicking off with the lines "Autumn days when the grass is jewelled And the silk inside a chestnut shell," Autumn Days also features jetplanes meeting in the air to be refuelled, shoes so comfy though they're worn out and they're battered and the taste of apple pie.

9. Colours of Day

Another song which might not be instantly recognisable from its title but by the time the chorus kicks in, you'll probably be able to sing it word for word.

If we gave you the line "so light up the fire and let the flame burn," we reckon you'd be able to sing the rest and if we added "open the door, let Jesus return," you'll definitely know which hymn we're on about!

10. All Things Bright and Beautiful

We're ending the list with some of the really traditional offerings from a school assembly soundtrack, which couldn't not be in the top 10.

The hymn was first published in 1848 in Mrs Cecil Alexander's Hymns for Little Children and is still sung across the world today.