December 7, 2025
The writer of these words lived in Ireland and was married to an Anglican minister. She had a heart for the disadvantaged and traveled many miles daily to visit the poor and sick. Cecil provided warm clothes and medical supplies. She and her sister founded a school for the deaf.
Cecil wrote the words for 400 hymns, with a special interest in ones to teach the truths of scripture to children.
I hope we all celebrate Christmas with this lovely carol.
Once in Royal David’s City
by Cecil Frances Alexander
Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed.
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ that little child.
He came down to earth from Heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all.
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour Holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor, lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in Heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high,
When, like stars, His children crowned
All in white, shall wait around.
