"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. For the short novel by Charles Dickens, see A Christmas Carol. ...

History

Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal priest, was inspired when he was visiting the town of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church and his organist, Lewis Redner, added the music. Redner's tune, simply titled "St. Louis", is the tune used most often for this carol in the United States. Meanwhile, the English tune "Forest Green", adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, is the tune most often used for this carol in the United Kingdom and sometimes in the U.S. as well, especially in the Episcopal Church. Phillips Brooks (December 13, 1835 - January 23, 1893), was a noted United States clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ... Arabic بيت لحم Name Meaning House of Lambs Government City (from 1995) Also Spelled Beit Lahm (officially) Bayt Lahm (unofficially) Governorate Bethlehem Population 29,930 (2006) Jurisdiction 29,799 dunams (29. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... A statue of Ralph Vaughan Williams in Dorking. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ...

Another version by H. Walford Davies is usually performed only by choirs rather than as a congregational hymn. This is because the first four verses are for treble voices with organ accompaniment, with only the final verse as a chorale/refrain harmony. This version is traditionally used at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Kings College, Cambridge. Sir Henry Walford Davies (September 6, 1869 - March 11, 1941) was a British composer, who held the title Master of the Kings Music from 1934 until 1941. ... The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format of Christian worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus and traditionally followed at Christmas. ... Full name The Kings College of Our Lady and St Nicholas Motto Veritas et utilitas Truth and usefulness Named after Henry VI Previous names - Established 1441 Sister College New College Provost Dame Judith Mayhew-Jonas Location Kings Parade Undergraduates 397 Graduates 239 Homepage Boatclub Kings College, Cambridge...

Lyrics

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 to-night.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.

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.

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.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

Phillips Brooks (music by Lewis Redner) -- 1868

Cover Versions

• Richard Crooks
• Kate and Anna McGarrigle - The McGarrigle Christmas Hour (2005) (using Redner's tune)
• Bright Eyes (2002)
• Julie Andrews (1967, 1982)
• Stephen Cleobury and the King's College Choir (1984) - O Come All Ye Faithful (using "Forests Green")
• Choir of Winchester Cathedral (1998) - O Come Let Us Adore Him (using "Forests Green")
• George Guest and the Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge (1974) - Christmas at St. John's *using "Forests Green")
• Amy Grant - A Christmas Album (1983); retitled "Little Town"
• Choir of Durham Cathedral (Walford Davies setting)
• The King's Singers - A Little Christmas Music (1989) (Redner tune)
• Harry Christophers and The Sixteen - A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection (using "Forests Green")
• Patty Loveless (2002)
• Toby Keith (2007)
• Jars of Clay - Christmas Songs (2007)

Richard Crooks (Birthname: Richard Alexander Crooks b. ... Kate and Anna McGarrigle are a Canadian folk music duo from Quebec. ... The McGarrigle Christmas Hour is a 2005 album by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. ... Bright Eyes is a band consisting of singer-songwriter/guitarist Conor Oberst, multi-instrumentalist/producer Mike Mogis, Nate Walcott, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omahas indie music scene. ... Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells[1] on 1 October 1935[2]) is an award-winning English actress, singer, author and cultural icon. ... Stephen Cleobury (b. ... The world-famous Choir of Kings College, Cambridge is one of todays most accomplished and renowned representatives of the great British choral tradition. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close View along the nave of Winchester Cathedral to the west door A plan published in 1911 View of Winchester Cathedral Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, said to be the second longest, and with... George Guest (9 February 1924 - 20 November 2002) was organist and choirmaster of St Johns College, Cambridge, for four decades. ... Full name The College of Saint John the Evangelist of the University of Cambridge Motto - Named after The Hospital of Saint John the Evangelist, Cambridge, named after John the Evangelist Previous names - Established 1511 Sister College Balliol College Master Prof. ... Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her Contemporary Christian Music and pop music, as well as a New York Times Bestselling author, TV personality, and occasional actress. ... This page is about the album by Amy Grant. ... Durham Cathedrals famous Sanctuary Knocker on the North Door Ground plan of Durham Cathedral Legend of the founding of Durham depicted on cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, which is almost always referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city... Sir Henry Walford Davies (September 6, 1869 - March 11, 1944) was a British composer, who held the title Master of the Kings Music from 1934 until 1941. ... The Kings Singers are a famous a cappella group, consisting of two countertenors, two tenors, a baritone and a bass. ... Harry Christophers is a British conductor, born on December 26, 1953 in Goudhurst, Kent. ... The Sixteen is an English choir performing early religious music. ... Patty Loveless signing a shirt Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey on January 4, 1957 in Pikeville, Kentucky) is an American country music singer. ... Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961) is an American country music singer-songwriter who has enjoyed commercial success throughout the 1990s and 2000s. ... Jars of Clay is a rock band from Franklin, Tennessee. ... Singles from Christmas Songs Released: TBD Christmas Songs is the ninth full-length album (and first full-length Christmas album) from Jars Of Clay, that is tentatively set to be released on October 16, 2007 through Gray Matters/Nettwerk [1]. This will be the first ever release through the newly...

Media

Image File history File links Oh_Little_Town_of_Bethlehem. ...

External links

• "O Little Town of Bethlehem" at Cyberhymnal

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