Written by Philip Brooks (1835–1893) in 1867.
Following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, American preacher Rector Phillips Brooks wrote the text to this hymn after he was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine.
For the 1867 Christmas worship services at Philadelphia’s Holy Trinity Church, Brooks wanted to write a carol for his children’s choir. Recalling his visit to the birthplace of Jesus, Brooks wrote the words for O Little Town of Bethlehem and handed them to the church’s worship leader, Lewis Redner, who composed the melody.
It was first sung by a group of six Sunday School teachers and 36 children.
Three years later in 1871, his church organist Lewis Redner wrote the melody for the local Sunday school children’s choir.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
I wonder what Philip Brookes would think now on visiting Bethlehem, and how the carol would be different?