Oh Come, All Ye Faithful Carol
Adeste Fideles a Portuguese Hymn Written by John Francis Wade
It was once commonly believed that the well-known carol Oh Come, All Ye Faithful dated back to the thirteenth century and was written in Latin by St. Bonaventure. However, the legend was debunked by Dom John Stephan, a priest, who researched the hymn. He discovered that the original manuscript was written by John Francis Wade.
The True Author
John Francis Wade was a Roman Catholic from England. However, because of the Jacobite rebellion he fled England with other Catholics. Many of these Catholics formed communities in France and England. To support himself, Wade taught music and worked as a copyist of musical scores.
In 1743, Wade introduced the world to a Latin Christmas carol that began “Adeste Fideles, Laeti triumphante.” Until the 1900’s, historians believed that Wade had found an ancient hymn that had sunk into oblivion. As a result, the legend formed around the hymn. However, Wade's signature can be found on all seven original hand-copied manuscripts. The evidence makes it seem unlikely that the hymn dates back further than Wade.
The Translation from Latin to English
When the persecution ended, the English refugees returned home and brought the song with them. Eventually, Rev. Frederick Oakeley, an Anglican minister discovered the carol. The song inspired him and he attempted to translate it. His first translation read “Ye Faithful, Approach Ye.”
Fortunately, for us, Oakeley attempted a second translation. His new translation was more direct and read “O Come, All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant!” Perhaps Oakeley’s conversion to Catholicism improved his grasp of Latin and his subsequent translation. Soon, Adestes Fideles became a popular carol in both Catholic and Protestant religious circles. It is still sung today in both Latin and English.
A Footnote Regarding the Tune
The melody is ascribed to both John Reading and John Francis Wade. Some sources suggest that Wade wrote the hymn as a parody of a comic opera that was popular at the time. Most church hymnals attribute both the lyrics and the music to Wade.
Sources
Reynolds, Virginia. The Spirit of Christmas: A History of Best-Loved Carols. Peter Pauper Press, Inc. 2000.
Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2003.
The History of More Popular Carols
The Origination of Silent Night: The Story of How and Why the Popular Hymn was Written
Why Handel Wrote the Hallelujah Chorus: The Story of the Culminating Chorus in Handel’s Messiah
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: The Classic Christmas Hymn by Charles Wesley
O Come
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