The writer of one of the most popular and inspirational hymns of the 20th century has died at the age of 97.

Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, who wrote the words to “Tell out, my soul” in 1962, died in Cambridge on August 12, 2024.

“Tell out my soul” is a favourite among Anglican churches in Australia and elsewhere, but Bishop Dudley-Smith wrote more than 400 other hymns including the popular “Lord, for the years”.

A supporter of Billy Graham's ministry and close friend of evangelical leader the Rev Dr John Stott, he preached at Dr Stott’s funeral and wrote his biography. Doctrinally and lyrically rich, his words have been and will be sung, as the hymn goes, “to children’s children”.

Bishop Dudley-Smith was awarded an OBE in 2003 “for services to hymnody”.

“Timothy Dudley-Smith gladdened our hearts by the words he wrote and gave us the opportunity to lift our voices in praise of the Lord whom he loved and served over many decades,” said the Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel.

“God blessed his ministry to encourage Christians around the world to tell out the greatness of the Lord.” 

To honour Bishop Dudley-Smith’s work and to thank God for his life, the 10.30 am service at St Andrew’s Cathedral,Sydney  on Sunday August 25 will feature only his hymns including "Tell Out My Soul" and "Name of all Majesty". Dean Sandy Grant says the Cathedral choir will also sing one of Dudley-Smith’s anthems, the lyrics of which enable “the word of Christ to dwell richly among us in... hymns and spiritual songs".