The author, Henry Downton, was born in Pulverbatch, Shropshire, England. In 1840, he graduated from Cambridge where his father was sub-librarian of Trinity College. After serving as curate of St. John’s Chatham, Downton became English chaplain at Geneva in 1857, returning to England in 1873 to become rector of Hopton, Suffolk. In Geneva, he had become acquainted with the hymnody of the Swiss and French Churches, and translated a number of their hymns into English. He published Hymns and Verses, Original and Translated, 1873.
MUSIC. CULBACH appeared in Heilige Seelenlust, Breslau, 1657, set to the hymn, “Ach wann kommt die Zeit heran.” The melody, simple in structure and well within the pitch range of all voices, is admirably adapted to congregational singing, in unison or in parts. The composer is unknown.
EPIPHANY
529. How brightly shines the Morning Star
Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-78
1.
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad’ und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süsse Wurzel Jesse!