ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL – EMHB 851
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (Nee Humpreys) (818-1895)
Tune: Royal Oak an Adaptation of a Traditional English
Melody: By Martin Shaw (1875-1958)
Scripture Reference: The Apostles’ Creed
Introduction:
Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, nee Humpreys was born in Dublin, the daughter of a former army officer who managed the estates of the Earl of Wicklow. She developed an early love for poetry and was also strongly influenced while young by the religious teachings of the leading figures in the Oxford movement. She was extremely attractive and was courted by two leading Clergymen in the Irish Church, Professor William Archer Butler and the Rev. William Alexander. Her dilemma as to which of these two suitors she should marry was ended by the death of the former and she married the latter in 1850 when he was a Curate. He went on to become first Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and later Archbishop of Arinagh and Primate of all Ireland. Like his wife he was a talented Poet.
Many of Mrs. Alexander’s religious poems and hymns were written before her marriage. They were nearly all designed for children in the Sunday Schools in which she taught and were used to illustrate and explain the basic doctrines of Christianity, in particular the meaning of the Apostle’s Creed. “All things bright and beautiful” was designed to explain to children the meaning of the opening words of the Creed. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth”.
It first appeared in Frances Humphrey’s Hymn for little children published in 1848 with a preface by John Keble. The book went into a hundred editions and the profits were devoted to a school for deaf mutes in Londonderry.
The tune generally associated with the Hymn which though light and lively is Royal Oak an adaptation of a traditional English melody by Martin Shaw (1875-1958). This tune however is said to suffer from overuse and other tunes with the same title “All things bright” by William Henry Monk (1823-1889) and also by Sir. Frederick Dussey 1825-1889 and Greystone by W. R. Waghorne are also in popular use.
EMHB 851
1. All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
2. Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
All things-
3. The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
All things-
4. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.
All things-
5. He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
All things-
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (Nee Humpreys) (818-1895)
Tune: Royal Oak an Adaptation of a Traditional English
Melody: By Martin Shaw (1875-1958)
Scripture Reference: The Apostles’ Creed
Introduction:
Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, nee Humpreys was born in Dublin, the daughter of a former army officer who managed the estates of the Earl of Wicklow. She developed an early love for poetry and was also strongly influenced while young by the religious teachings of the leading figures in the Oxford movement. She was extremely attractive and was courted by two leading Clergymen in the Irish Church, Professor William Archer Butler and the Rev. William Alexander. Her dilemma as to which of these two suitors she should marry was ended by the death of the former and she married the latter in 1850 when he was a Curate. He went on to become first Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and later Archbishop of Arinagh and Primate of all Ireland. Like his wife he was a talented Poet.
Many of Mrs. Alexander’s religious poems and hymns were written before her marriage. They were nearly all designed for children in the Sunday Schools in which she taught and were used to illustrate and explain the basic doctrines of Christianity, in particular the meaning of the Apostle’s Creed. “All things bright and beautiful” was designed to explain to children the meaning of the opening words of the Creed. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth”.
It first appeared in Frances Humphrey’s Hymn for little children published in 1848 with a preface by John Keble. The book went into a hundred editions and the profits were devoted to a school for deaf mutes in Londonderry.
The tune generally associated with the Hymn which though light and lively is Royal Oak an adaptation of a traditional English melody by Martin Shaw (1875-1958). This tune however is said to suffer from overuse and other tunes with the same title “All things bright” by William Henry Monk (1823-1889) and also by Sir. Frederick Dussey 1825-1889 and Greystone by W. R. Waghorne are also in popular use.
EMHB 851
1. All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
2. Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
All things-
3. The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
All things-
4. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.
All things-
5. He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
All things-
Adesegun Akitoye
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