WORDS:
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander
1818-1895
Born: Early April 1818, Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Died: October 12, 1895, Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Buried: City Cemetery, Lodonderry, Northern Ireland.
Music: Henry J. Gauntlett
Born: July 9, 1805, Wellington, Shropshire, Eng land.
Died: Feb ru a ry 21, 1876, London, England.
Buried: Kensal Green Cemetery, London, England.
For many years. Once in Royal David's City has been my favorite Christmas Carol. Long before adopting the Anglican brand of Christian worship, this song has touched my heart.
During the Advent and Christmas season of 2005, I not been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. However, my neurologist had told me he strongly suspected that this was at the root of my memory lapses and I would have to wait and get the rest of the tests completed to know for sure.
During that holiday season, I played Once in Royal David's City over and over. It is a hymn of comfort and always reminded me that Jesus was with me and walking with me through this entirely frightening journey. And that's why I didn't stay upset over my diagnosis and why I am able to view it as an adventure God is taking me on.
Really read and listen to the words of this hymn. Although Cecil was a writer of children's hymns, her lyrics are rich in the knowledge of God and rich in Anglican theology.
It's hard for me not to hear this carol without getting teary eyed in gratitude and love for God.
Below is a little bit of history about Sister Cecil. What a wonderful and brave Christian lady she was. And it wasn't easy being an Anglican in Ireland back then.
Since 1919, the King's College Chapel, Cambridge has begun their Christmas Eve service with "Once in Royal David's City" as the processional.The first verse is sung by a member of the as a solo. The second verse is sung by the choir, and in the third verse the congregation joins. Excluding the first verse, the hymn is accompanied by the organ It is estimated that there are millions of listeners worldwide who tune in to this service.
Cecil Frances Humphreys was born in Dublin, but spent a good part of her later life in Londonderry and Strabane; her husband, William Alexander, himself a Derry man, was appointed Church of Ireland bishop of that city in 1867. He later became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
She was the second daughter of Major John Humphreys of Miltown House, County Tyrone, Ireland. She and William Alexander, archbishop and primate of the Anglican church for all of Ireland were married for 45 years.
She engaged herself in parish duties and charity work. Her husband said of her, “From one poor home to another she went. Christ was ever with her, and all felt her influence.” Mrs. Alexander had been active before her marriage in the Sunday school movement, and her love of children and interest in their spiritual instruction never diminished. Almost all of the 400 poems and hymns that she wrote were prompted by this concern.
Cecil Frances was a keen supporter of the Oxford Movement, and in 1848 published Hymns For Little Children, which include three of the most popular hymns in the English language: "Once in Royal David's City," "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "There is a Green Hill Far Away." Charles Gounod, the composer of Faust, said that some of her lyrics "seemed to set themselves to music."
A further selection of her works - hymns, tracts and poems - was published a year after her death.
The lyrics:
1.Once in royal David’s city
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.
2. He came down to earth from Heaven,
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.
3. And, through all His wondrous childhood,
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.
4. For He is our childhood’s pattern;
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.
5. And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love,
For that Child so dear and gentle Is
our Lord in Heav’n above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
6. Not in that poor lowly stable,
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.
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