Wednesday 9 May 2012

Irish Hymn-Writer Mrs Cecil F. Alexander


Hymns are an important part of life in Ulster and a central aspect of our Christian faith.  We were taught them from our mother’s knee and at Sunday School.  Singing them in church was also a treat, especially after spending so many weeks trying to learn them by heart.

But what do we know about some of our Irish hymn-writers?  For example, what do we know about the lady who wrote that lovely Christmas hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City”?  The writer was Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895).  The future Mrs Alexander was born in Dublin in early April 1818, the third child and the second daughter of Norfolk man Major John and Mrs Elizabeth Humphries.  From an early age, she started writing verse, a practice she kept up for most of her life.  As a young woman, she came under the strong influences of the Oxford Movement, and especially John Keble, another hymn-writer of some note.  As her hymn-writing became recognised for what is was, her compositions soon found their way into the Church of Ireland hymnal and also to other hymn books the world over.

She wrote that immortal hymn, “All things bright and beautiful,” that we know well.  Another very well-known hymn is “There is a green hill far away,” supposed to have been inspired by her view over the city of Londonderry.

For Christmas, the hymn that will be forever associated with her name is “Once in Royal David’s City.” 

Moving to Strabane in Co. Tyrone, she married William Alexander in October 1850.  He was an Anglican clergyman and rector in Strabane.  He later became Bishop of Derry and afterwards Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland. 

Mrs Alexander was also involved in works of charity, the earnings from her first publication helping to build the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan institution for the Deaf and Dumb, founded in 1846 in Strabane.  The profits from her “Hymns for Little Children” were used to fund this school.  She was involved with the Derry Home for Fallen Women, and worked to develop a district nurses' service.  She was a tireless visitor of the poor and sick.

Before her death in 1895 at the age of 77, she saw many of her hymns published in various hymnals.  Seven were included in the 1873 edition of the Church of Ireland Hymnal, while eighteen found their way into A Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern (1889).  So well-known and well-loved are her hymns that they are sung all over the world by Christians of many different denominations.  Nine of her hymns were accepted for publication in the 1960 and 1987 editions of the Church of Ireland Hymnal.   
The year after her death, her husband a collection of her poems entitled, “Poems of the late Mrs Alexander.” 
Mrs Alexander spent most of her adult life in the north west of Northern Ireland doing enormous good for those who were less fortunate than herself.

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