All Things Bright and Beautiful

Children's Hymn on the Apostle's Creed, God Made Them All

Nov 16, 2007

This hymn for children, "All Things Bright and Beautiful," written by Cecil Frances Alexander, explains the first line of the Apostle's Creed.

"All things Bright and Beautiful" is a children's hymn written by Cecil Frances Humphreys-Alexander. It explains to children the meaning of the opening line of the Apostle's Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." The tune is 'Royal Oak,' an adaptation of a 17th century traditional English melody arranged by Martin Shaw in 1915. Schools often use a simplified version by William Henry Monk, the composer of the fine tune Eventide for "Abide with Me."

This sacred song first appeared in Frances Humphreys's Hymns for Little Children, published in 1848 with a preface by John Keble. Hymns for Little Children went into a hundred editions and the profits were devoted to a school for deaf mutes in Londonderry. There were later changes in which a verse was revised. The hymn originally had the following opening verse and refrain:

The text author Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (1818-1895), born in Dublin, was the daughter of a former army officer who managed the estates of the Earl of Wicklow. She was a prolific writer of hymns for children in the 19th century. She wanted to help children understand the Christian faith.

Mrs Alexander developed an early love of poetry and while young, she was strongly influenced by the religious teachings of the leading figures in the Oxford Movement. She married the Rev. William Alexander, a curate them. He went on to become Primate of all Ireland. Like his wife, he was a talented poet.

Many of her 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. In particular, this hymn explains in simple language children can understand the Creed's opening words: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." Mrs. Alexander wrote about 400 hymns.

Some Hymns Written by Frances Humphreys-Alexander

Refrain of "All Things Bright and Beautiful"

Lyrics and Music

Sources:

Together in Song, by Wesley Milgate and D'Arcy Wood, The Australian Hymbook (2006)

The copyright of the article All Things Bright and Beautiful in Christian Music is owned by Tel Asiado. Permission to republish All Things Bright and Beautiful in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.