Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

"Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", also called "Zion, or the City of God", is an 18th-century English hymn written by John Newton, who also wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace". The hymn has often been set to the music of Joseph Haydn's "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (known as "Austria" in English-speaking circles) or Arthur Sullivan's "Lux Eoi". In recent decades a third tune, Abbots Leigh, has risen to prominence. This was written for this text by Reverend Cyril Vincent Taylor in 1942 while he was a producer of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC and stationed at the village of Abbots Leigh.

The hymn was written by Newton after he had asked for assistance from his friend and neighbour, classical writer William Cowper, while he was the Church of England parish priest of Olney Church. With Cowper's assistance, Newton was able to publish the Olney Hymns Hymnal, which included "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", in 1779. The hymn is based upon Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20-21. "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" is considered to be Newton's best composition and was the only joyful hymn in the publication. The hymn has five verses of eight lines each.

The hymn was a favourite of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. He is noted to have once awakened his soldiers in 1862 while they were in the Shenandoah Valley by singing "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" out of tune.

The hymn is used by a wide range of Christian denominations, including Catholics. Words of the hymn may be changed depending on, for example, whether the congregation is Calvinist or Lutheran. Presbyterians often sing only three verses of the hymn. It is also used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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