The first of a series looking at the stories behind some Christmas Carols, this one is Once in Royal David’s City.
The carol was a poem written by Cecil Alexander, the daughter of an English army officer, was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1818. She began writing verses in her childhood, and by her 20s, she was recognized as a gifted hymn writer. She also wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful and There is a Green Hill Far Away. It is quoted that these hymns were conceived by Cecil “after overhearing a group of her godchildren complaining about the dreariness of the catechism”. She then used her skills to make the Christiam message understandable by children.
She wrote about 400 hymns in her lifetime and used the money for charitable purposes. She helped to build a school for the deaf and dumb, was involved with a home for “fallen women,” and helped to develop nursing services in her area.
Her words in the carol shattered the perceptions of the picturesque Nativity with the realities of the lowly stable, and the weak and dependent baby. Today we tend to omit the verse containing ‘Christian children all must be, mild obedient good as he‘.
Cecil Alexander had that great skill, the ability to convey the Christian message to others.