A MUSICAL tribute was held to mark 25 years since the death of a world-renowned hymn writer from Walton.

Stuart Hine penned the hymn How Great Thou Art, which is sung across the world and was last year voted as the UK’s favourite hymn in a Songs of Praise survey.

He was inspired to write the famous song after travelling across Ukraine with his wife in the 1930s.

After returning home to Walton he published the hymn in a missionary magazine which went out to 15 countries and started the hymn’s rise in popularity.

Stuart died in 1989 but his daughter Sonia still lives in the family home in Walton.

Members of churches across Walton joined together to sing the hymn in Walton High Street to mark 25 years since his death.