Peace is Her Song

If you have ever sung a hymn in your life, there is a good chance you have Shirley Erena Murray to thank for it. Growing up in Invercargill, she would go on to make a major impact on hymns sung in New Zealand.

Both Murray and her husband John were staunch believers in equality and fairness all their lives, and no hymn conveys these sentiments so eloquently as the one titled For Everyone Born, A Place at The Table. Written by Shirley in 1998, it beautifully sums up her beliefs and character with its lyrics conveying her ideas of how we should treat each other. While now 26 years old, its message is just as relevant as it was when first written.

Eventually she helped publish three very important titles – Alleluia Aotearoa, Carol Our Christmas, and A New Zealand Hymn Book – each distinctly Kiwi and representing all our peoples: Māori, Pasifika, and European. In addition, she later wrote her own books, further making her mark.

What I love the most about Peace Is Her Song is learning about how Murray achieved her goals while being a devoted wife to John and mother to her three boys Alistair, David, and Rob. As well as her own work, she helped write and compile several books showcasing New Zealand’s best hymns.

Anne Manchester’s lyrical Peace Is Her Song is further proof of what I have always said about biographies: that they not only entertain but teach us that no matter how hard we think we have it, others have overcome similar or worse problems. I have always marvelled at how we can pick up a book, gain access to someone’s life and experiences, and be able to benefit from their wisdom.

If you see Peace is Her Song at your local bookshop, I highly recommend picking it up. Even if you are not into poetry, this is well worth it just to read Shirley’s story and marvel at the life she led.