What if the earliest known Christian worship song could be heard again in churches today?
Award-winning worship leaders Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding are helping make that possibility a reality in a new feature-length documentary titled The First Hymn. The film traces the remarkable story of a third-century Christian hymn discovered on a fragile papyrus fragment in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt - widely recognized by scholars as the oldest surviving Christian hymn with both lyrics and musical notation.
Hosted by Australian historian and author John Dickson, the documentary follows the ancient manuscript, known as P. Oxy 1786, from its archaeological discovery to its preservation and study at Oxford University. The fragment offers rare insight into how early believers expressed their faith through structured song, challenging assumptions that the earliest Christians lacked musical sophistication.
Rather than leaving the hymn as a historical artifact, Tomlin and Fielding set out to bring it back to life. The film captures their journey as they work to translate the ancient Greek text and compose a contemporary worship arrangement in Nashville studios. The project culminates in a live worship performance, symbolically connecting the modern church with the praise of believers from nearly 2,000 years ago.
The First Hymn will premiere in U.S. theaters on March 24 and 26, 2026, through Fathom Events. Following its theatrical run, the documentary is expected to be available digitally in the United States.
For Tomlin and Fielding - whose songs have shaped worship services around the world - the project serves as a reminder that Christian praise has endured across centuries. From the early church to today, the message remains the same: faith is meant to be sung.
