Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
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).
|
|







