370. Thou to whom the sick and dying
Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903
A hospital hymn written in 1870 under the text, “And they brought unto Him all sick people ... and He healed them” (Matt. 4:24).
It was first published in Hymns for the Church Service, 1871, by W. H. Hutton. Later it was revised for the author’s Hymns and Sacred Lyrics, 1874.
For comments on Godfrey Thring, see [Hymn 89].
MUSIC. WALTHAM. The tune appears with its original name, “Gott des Himmels und der Erden,” at [Hymn 573], which see for comments on the tune and the composer. The original form of the melody is in triple time. Bach thought enough of the tune to use it in his Christmas Oratorio.