The biggest worship service in the world isn't in a California megachurch. It isn't in one of China's rapidly expanding congregations. It isn't even the vast open air Masses that accompany the rock-star status of Pope Francis. It happens in a North London suburb every May. And half a billion people join in.
Well, alright, it's not a worship service as such. It's the FA Cup Final – and those half a billion aren't there in person, they're watching on TV – although 90-odd thousand people do cram into Wembley Stadium. But a key part of the traditional build-up to this great sporting event is one of the most well-loved and enduring hymns in history.
Abide With Me was first sung before the 1927 Cup Final and has been ever present since then. The players shorts are less baggy these days and their wallets much heavier, the famous twin towers of Wembley are gone, replaced by a huge arch and the pies in the stadium these days would cost you about as much as the average monthly wage in 1927. But constant through it all has remained the traditional rendition of Abide With Me.
The story behind the hymn is remarkable. Rev Henry Lyte was close to death when he composed it and probably the last thing on his mind was the thought that 175 years later it would be known and loved by Christians, football fans and pretty much anyone who's come into contact with it ever since.
Still hugely popular at funerals for its plea to God for protection and guidance, Abide With Me nevertheless packs a theological punch. Quoting St Paul directly from 1 Corinthians, this glorious anthem stares mortality in the face and has the supreme confidence to taunt it: "Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? / I triumph still, if thou abide with me."
This year's rendition will be extra special for me – I'm part of the choir that will sing on the pitch before the match. A fan from each of the 64 clubs which made the third round of the FA Cup has been selected to form the choir. Some of the stories that helped my fellow singers to win their places are truly humbling. It's well worth reading a few of them.
It'll be very special to sing Abide With Me at Wembley, the home of English football, having joined with my fellow Bolton Wanderers fans to sing it at the funeral of our great hero Nat Lofthouse in 2011. Lofthouse epitomised all that was good about English football – honesty, endeavour, loyalty to his hometown club and quality – 30 goals in just 33 games for England.
But even our greatest earthly heroes have feet of clay. And that's why as a Christian, Abide With Me is such a wonderful way to begin the Cup Final countdown. It looks beyond the temporal things like football and points us towards the author and perfector of our faith. "What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?" asks the hymn, "Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?"
And when it comes to a climax, a simple plea: "In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me." Amen.
