In New, Bright Raiment Clad

Another hymn for Rogation Sunday and a general celebration of the Eastertide themes of spring and renewal:

The glory of the spring, how sweet!
The new-born life, how glad!
What joy the happy earth to greet
In new, bright raiment clad!

Divine Redeemer, thee I bless;
I greet thy going forth;
I love thee in the loveliness
Of thy renewèd earth.

But O! these wonders of thy grace,
These nobler works of thine,
These marvels sweeter far to trace,
These new births more divine:

This new-born glow of faith so strong,
This bloom of love so fair,
This new-born ecstasy of song,
And fragrancy of prayer!

Creator Spirit, work in me
These wonders sweet of thine;
Divine Redeemer, graciously
Renew this heart of mine.

Still let new life and strength upspring,
Still let new joy be given;
And grant the glad new song to ring
Through the new earth and heaven.

Thomas Hornblower Gill, 1867

Tune: SUNNINGHILL (C.M.D.)

George Job Elvey, 1887

P.S. - In my church today,. one of the scripture readings included the story of Lydia (Acts 16: 11-15), which always brings to mind this hymn and the additional stanza that I once wrote for it.

Two (Liturgical) Years Ago: For the beauty of the earth

Three (Liturgical) Years Ago: O day of light and gladness

Four (Calendar) Years Ago: T. Tertius Noble

Four (Liturgical) Years Ago: O Jesus, crowned with all renown

Five (Cslendar) Years Ago: T. Tertius Noble

Triumphant the New Song We Sing

While we are still marking the twelve days of Christmas here at CWS (see the entry below for today's hymn), much of the world has moved on. The coming of the New Year offers an opportunity to look ahead and leave the past behind, which today's hymn celebrates with its theme of renewal.

O God, by whom all change is wrought,
By whom new things to birth are brought,
In whom no change is known;
Whate'er thou dost, whate'er thou art,
Thy people still in thee have part,
Still, still thou art our own.

Spirit who makest all things new,
Thou leadest onward; we pursue
The heav'nly march sublime;
'Neath thy renewing fire we glow,
And still from strength to strength we go,
From height to height we climb.

Sorrow and dread we leave behind;
New light, new glory still we find
New realms divine possess,
New births of grace new raptures bring;
Triumphant the new song we sing,
The great Renewer bless.

Thomas Hornblower Gill, 1869; alt.
Tune: INNSBRUCK (8.8.6.8.8.6.)
Heinrich Isaac, c. 1500

Thomas Hornblower Gill was Unitarian by birth, but became a Nonconformist later in life. This hymn was apparently first printed in an American hymnbook, Songs of the Spirit (1871) and later in the British Baptist Hymnal (1879) and several others, including the American Unitarian Hymns of the Spirit (1937). The old tune by Heinrich Isaac, an influential Flemish composer of his time, was also used by J.S. Bach in his cantatas.

One Year Ago: More Voices Found: Bessie Porter Head