Hymn Story: O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

Phillips Brooks, was born in 1835, in Boston, Massachusetts.  He graduated from Harvard and the Episcopal Theological Seminary in 1859.  He then began a ministry that lasted nearly 35 years.  Early in his ministry, Brooks made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, spending the Christmas season in Bethlehem.  The experience of worshipping in the Church of the Nativity, made a great impression on Brooks.

 

In 1868, several years after his trip, Brooks was looking for a Christmas song for the Children’s choir to sing in a Christmas program.  Not finding one, he wrote down the words to this great Christmas carol.  He gave the text to his organist, Lewis H. Redner.  Redner struggled for some time to come up with the right melody for this carol.  On the evening before the program was to occur, Redner says that he woke during the night and rushed to write down the music.  He always said that the music was a gift from heaven.  “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was first published in a collection in 1874.  Although Brooks wrote many other Christmas and Easter songs for children, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is the only one that is still in use today.

Originally there were five verses.  Verse 4 is included here but is not found in many current hymnals.

 

O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Saint Louis)

 

Verse 1

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

 

Verse 2

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth!

 

Verse 3

How silently how silently the wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still The dear Christ enters in.

 

Verse 4

Where children pure and happy, pray to the blessed Child.

Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild.

Where charity stands watching, and faith holds wide the door.

The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more

 

Verse 5

O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today!

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

 

Lewis Henry Redner | Phillips Brooks

Source Material:  101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck

(Sam Stack)

This article previously appeared in the December 2021 Advisor.