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History of |
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| Cecil Alexander is probably most famous for her Hymns for Little Children written in 1848. As for me, the hymn that comes to mind is All Creatures Great and Small,
if not because I have sung it so much, because I read the whole series of books, named after her verses, about the Yorkshire vet,James Herriot, who
was so moved by her song! Yes, that was a great hymn. However, we should not neglect her great Christmas
hymn: Once In Royal David's City.
Cecil Alexander's husband was Archbishop William Alexander who was the Anglican primate for Ireland. Born in 1818, Mrs. Alexander died in 1895 after a productive life of writing Christian lyrics. I am afraid that his wife's reputation has out distanced the honorable archbishop! Mrs. Alexander wrote the lyrics in 1848. It was put to the music of Henry John Gauntlett in 1849. --- by Bill Drennon, Central Valley Christian School, Visalia, CA |
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See the lyrics:
Once In Royal David's City
Music: "Irby," Henry John Gauntlett, 1849.
Once in royal David's city
He came down to earth from heaven,
And through all His wondrous childhood
Jesus is our childhood's pattern;
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Not in that poor lowly stable,
Ireland, 1848-49
Words: Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, 1848.
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior Holy.
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly Maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.