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Maker of Heaven and Earth (All Things Bright and Beautiful)


By Cecil Frances Alexander


 

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

 

Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) was the daughter of a major in the Royal Marines and began writing poetry at the age of nine. As a young woman she was highly influenced by the high church movement in Oxford and wrote a series of admired tracts. With her Verses for Holy Seasons (1846) being followed by Hymns for Little Children (1848), which included such classics as the above (which is the original 1848 version) and also 'Once in Royal David's City'. In 1850 she married the Rev. William Alexander who would go on to become Bishop of Derry in 1867, and they had four children. She died in Ireland and published a further seven volumes of poetry, as well as writing for magazines. Her uplifting words continue to bring joy to this day.

NOTE - The traditional tune for this hymn is named Royal Oak (ca. 1667) and was arranged by Martin Shaw (1875-1958) and originally published in Songs of Praise (1915).

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