Short Name: | Cecil Frances Alexander |
Full Name: | Alexander, Cecil Frances, 1818-1895 |
Birth Year: | 1818 |
Death Year: | 1895 |
As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (b. Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland, 1818; Londonderry, Ireland, 1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf. Alexander was strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement and by John Keble's Christian Year. Her first book of poetry, Verses for Seasons, was a "Christian Year" for children. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandments, and prayer, writing in simple language for children. Her more than four hundred hymn texts were published in Verses from the Holy Scripture (1846), Hymns for Little Children (1848), and Hymns Descriptive and Devotional ( 1858).
Bert Polman
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Alexander, Cecil Frances, née Humphreys, second daughter of the late Major John Humphreys, Miltown House, co. Tyrone, Ireland, b. 1823, and married in 1850 to the Rt. Rev. W. Alexander, D.D., Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. Mrs. Alexander's hymns and poems number nearly 400. They are mostly for children, and were published in her Verses for Holy Seasons, with Preface by Dr. Hook, 1846; Poems on Subjects in the Old Testament, pt. i. 1854, pt. ii. 1857; Narrative Hymns for Village Schools, 1853; Hymns for Little Children, 1848; Hymns Descriptive and Devotional, 1858; The Legend of the Golden Prayers 1859; Moral Songs, N.B.; The Lord of the Forest and his Vassals, an Allegory, &c.; or contributed to the Lyra Anglicana, the S.P.C.K. Psalms and Hymns, Hymns Ancient & Modern, and other collections. Some of the narrative hymns are rather heavy, and not a few of the descriptive are dull, but a large number remain which have won their way to the hearts of the young, and found a home there. Such hymns as "In Nazareth in olden time," "All things bright and beautiful," "Once in Royal David's city," "There is a green hill far away," "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult," "The roseate hues of early dawn," and others that might be named, are deservedly popular and are in most extensive use. Mrs. Alexander has also written hymns of a more elaborate character; but it is as a writer for children that she has excelled.
- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Alexander, Cecil F., née Humphreys, p. 38, ii. Additional hymns to those already noted in this Dictionary are in common use:—
1. Christ has ascended up again. (1853.) Ascension.
2. His are the thousand sparkling rills. (1875.) Seven Words on the Cross (Fifth Word).
3. How good is the Almighty God. (1S48.) God, the Father.
4. In [a] the rich man's garden. (1853.) Easter Eve.
5. It was early in the morning. (1853.) Easter Day.
6. So be it, Lord; the prayers are prayed. (1848.) Trust in God.
7. Saw you never in the twilight? (1853.) Epiphany.
8. Still bright and blue doth Jordan flow. (1853.) Baptism of Our Lord.
9. The angels stand around Thy throne. (1848.) Submission to the Will of God.
10. The saints of God are holy men. (1848.) Communion of Saints.
11. There is one Way and only one. (1875.) SS. Philip and James.
12. Up in heaven, up in heaven. (1848.) Ascension.
13. We are little Christian children. (1848.) Holy Trinity.
14. We were washed in holy water. (1848.) Holy Baptism.
15. When of old the Jewish mothers. (1853.) Christ's Invitation to Children.
16. Within the Churchyard side by side. (1848.) Burial.
Of the above hymns those dated 1848 are from Mrs. Alexander's Hymns for Little Children; those dated 1853, from Narrative Hymns, and those dated 1875 from the 1875 edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern.
Several new hymns by Mrs. Alexander are included in the 1891 Draft Appendix to the Irish Church Hymnal.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
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Alexander, Cecil F. , p. 38, ii. Mrs. Alexander died at Londonderry, Oct. 12, 1895. A number of her later hymns are in her Poems, 1896, which were edited by Archbishop Alexander.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
See also in:
Texts by Cecil Frances Alexander (164) | As | Authority Languages | Instances |
---|---|---|---|
遠山迢迢,其色青青,(Yuǎnshān tiáotiáo, qí sè qīngqīng,) | Cecil F. H. Alexander (Author) | Chinese | 2 |
يسوع نادى حينما | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Arabic | 1 |
Within the temple's hallowed walls | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
Within the churchyard, side by side | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 4 |
Why do we say, Thy kingdom come | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
When wounded sore the stricken soul | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 82 |
When we speak of the Lord Jesus | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
When thou art kneeling down at night | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
When of old the Jewish mothers | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 15 |
When Jesus came to earth of old | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 6 |
When Christ came down on earth of old | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
We were washed in holy water | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
We were only little babies | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
We walk amid a world of beauteous things | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
We seek a land of more delight | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
We see the leaves fall withered from the trees | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
We need thee, Savior, when dear eyes are closing | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 3 | |
We may not know, we cannot tell | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author (attributed to)) | 1 | |
We are little Christian children, We can run, and talk, and play | Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 19 |
We are but little children weak (Alexander) | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 55 |
Wake little child, the morn is gay | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Upo mlima karibu | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Swahili | 1 |
Up in heaven, up in heaven | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 13 |
Unnipi taja s'a etan | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Dakota | 2 |
Una vez en un establo | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author (st. 1-2, 4-6)) | Spanish | 3 |
Un monte hay más allá del mar | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 4 |
Thy Temple is not made with hands | C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 9 |
Through many a far and foreign land | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Thou Power and Peace, in whom we find | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 10 |
There's many a happy household band | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
There was a little lowly upper room | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 2 | |
There is one way, and only one | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 10 |
There is one God, but one alone | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
There is a land where flowers are fair | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
There is a green hill far away | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 615 |
There are strange countries far away | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
There are no little things on earth | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The wise men to thy cradle throne | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 7 |
The wildflowers in their beauty | Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-95 (Author (vv. 2 alt., 5, and refrain)) | English | 2 |
The waving fields of yellow corn | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The sunset falls on Isaac's tent | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The Son of God, so high, so great | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 9 |
The sick man in his chamber | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The saints of God are holy men | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
The roseate hues of early dawn | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 103 |
The rich man did of Pilate crave | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
The raven builds her nest on high | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
The heavenly Father loves the birds | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | 3 | |
The golden gates are lifted up | C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 124 |
The flower that in the lowly vale | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The faithful men of every land | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
The board is spread with meats divine | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
The blind man, in his darkness | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 7 |
The angels stand around thy throne | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 6 |
Still bright and blue doth Jordan flow | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 4 | |
Spirit of God, that moved of old | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 21 |
Souls in heathen darkness lying | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 53 |
So be it, Lord, the prayers are prayed | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 4 |
Saw you never, in the twilight | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 72 |
Saw ye never in the meadows | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
Savior, blessed Savior, Listen while we sing | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Savior, to Thy cottage home | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
രാജൻ ദാ-വീദൂരിൽ പണ്ടു (Rājan dā-vīdūril paṇṭu) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Malayalam | 2 |
قد بدا في بيت لحم | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Arabic | 1 |
Put the spade and wheel away | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
പട്ടണ-വാതിലപ്പുറം (Paṭṭaṇa-vātilappuṟaṁ) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Malayalam | 2 |
Pain and toil are over now | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 8 |
ஓர் குன்று தூர உண்டங்கே (Ōr kuṉṟu tūra uṇṭaṅkē) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Tamil | 2 |
Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle-shed | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 340 |
Once in Bethlehem of Judah | Cecil Alexander (Author) | English | 16 |
Once in baptismal waters bright | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
On the goods that are not thine | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
On the dark hill's western side | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 4 |
O for the pearly gates of heaven | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 8 |
O Son of God, in glory crowned | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 10 |
O monte verde ali está | Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author) | 2 | |
O Lord, the Holy Innocents | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 14 |
O Jesus, bruised and wounded more | Mrs. Alexander (Author) | English | 19 |
O happy home where Thou art loved the dearest | Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author) | English | 10 |
O, ever on our earthly path | C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
O come, dear child, along with me | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 8 |
O Christian child, in Christ's own church | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Numa estrebaria rude | Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author) | Portuguese | 2 |
Now the dreary night is done | C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Ni Jesus ayabannatay | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Tagalog | 2 |
Najiŋ! najiŋ ce! Iye ḥca | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Dakota | 2 |
Mjini mwake Daudi | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Swahili | 2 |
每朶開放的小花 (Měi duǒ kāifàng de xiǎohuā) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Chinese | 4 |
Maranatha, He is coming, Not as once He came before | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Little children must be quiet | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Little birds sleep sweetly In their soft round nests | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 4 |
Las flores y los pájaros criaturas son de Dios | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 3 |
Las flores y los pájaros Dios sólo pudo hacer | Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895 (Author) | Spanish | 3 |
لا تفعل الإثم ولا تنطق بقول غضب | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Arabic | 1 |
ജീവതത്തിൻ ആഴി മീതെ (Jīvatattin āḻi mīte) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Malayalam | 2 |
Jesus nehesevamaenė | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Cheyenne | 2 |
Jesus came to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all | Mrs. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 852 |
Jesus calls us, Jesus calls us | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 3 | |
Jesus calls us from the worship | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 2 | |
Jesus, Holy, undefiled, Listen to a little child | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Jerusalem, why are thy voices dumb? | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
It was early in the morning of the first day of the week | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Is there a little orphan child | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
In the rich man's garden ground | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 3 | |
If hasty hand or bitter tongue | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Ich kenne einen stillen Ort | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | German | 3 |
I think when I read that sweet story of old (Luke) | Mrs. Jemima Thompson Luke (1813- ) (Author) | English | 2 |
I love the little snowdrop flower | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
I knew a little, sickly child | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
I bind unto myself today | Cecil Francis Alexander, 1818-95 (Translator) | English | 55 |
I bind this day to me for ever | Ho, Wicoḣaŋ ṡica (Translator and Paraphraser) | 2 | |
I bind myself to God today | Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895) (Alterer) | 5 | |
Hush, little Christian child | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
How good is the Almighty God | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Ho, Wicoḣaŋ ṡica | Mrs. C. F. Alexander, 1823-95 (Author) | Dakota | 2 |
His are the thousand sparkling rills | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 23 |
Hea Iesu ia kakou la | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Hawaiian | 3 |
He pu'u omao aia ma o | Cecil F. Alexander, 1823-1895 (Author) | Hawaiian | 3 |
He is risen, He is risen; Tell it out with joyful voice | Mrs. Alexander (Author) | English | 99 |
He is coming, He is coming, Not as once He came before | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 38 |
He cometh, on your hallowed board | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | 2 | |
Hallowed be our Father's name | Cecil Francis Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
From out the cloud of amber light | Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895 (Author) | 3 | |
Forsaken once, and thrice denied | Mrs. C. F. Alexander, 1823-95 (Author) | English | 10 |
Forgive them, O my Father | Alexander (Author) | English | 27 |
For all Thy saints, a noble throng | Mrs. Alexander (Author) | English | 9 |
Every morning the red sun | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 62 |
Es steht ein' Hügel weit von hier | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | German | 1 |
En un lejano cerro fue | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 2 |
EN lando malproksime for | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | 6 | |
En la reĝa Betlehemo | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Esperanto | 2 |
En el Calvario, con dolor | Cecil Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 2 |
En Belén hubo un establo | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 2 |
Einstens ward zu Bethlehem Juda | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | German | 1 |
Each little flower that opens | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 287 |
Each day we live the Christian life | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Do not quarrel, do not chide | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Do no sinful action | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 61 |
Desde el cielo Cristo llama | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 6 |
Dear Lord, on this Thy servant's day | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | 2 | |
Day by day the little daisy | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
දාවිත්ගේ පුරෙහි වරක් (Dāvitgē purehi varak) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Sinhala | 2 |
Cristo llama del tumulto | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 3 |
Cristo ha resucitado, ¡aleluya! | Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895 (Author) | Spanish | 1 |
Cristo chama nos tumultos | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Portuguese | 2 |
Complete in Thee, no work of mine | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 1 |
Come to our joyous marriage feast | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Christian children must be holy | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 13 |
Christ is kind and gentle | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
Christ be with me, Christ within me | Cecil Frances Alexander (Translator) | English | 11 |
Child, ere thou wander forth to play | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 3 |
Çdo lule t’but’ që hapet | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Albanian | 2 |
Blessed were they who, in the days of old | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Blessed are the pure in heart, They have loved the better part | Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 6 |
ഭംഗിയേറും സൃഷ്ടികൾ (Bhaṅgiyēṟuṁ sr̥ṣṭikaḷ) | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Malayalam | 2 |
Beyond the wicked [holy] city wall | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 8 |
Auferstanden, auferstanden, Sagt es allen | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | German | 2 |
At Nazareth in olden time | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 5 |
All creatures bright and beautiful | C. Frances Alexander (Author) | English | 8 |
All things beautiful and fair | Mrs. C. F. Alexander (Author) | English | 2 |
Adda napintas a turod | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Tagalog | 2 |
A gentle and a holy child | Cecil F. Alexander (Author) | English | 4 |
A cada flor que se abre | Cecil Frances Alexander (Author) | Spanish | 2 |