Cecil Frances Alexander

Cecil Frances Alexander
From: Cyberhymnal
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)

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Wikipedia Biography

Cecil Frances Alexander (April 1818 – 12 October 1895) was an Anglo-Irish hymnwriter and poet. Amongst other works, she wrote "All Things Bright and Beautiful", "There is a green hill far away" and the Christmas carol "Once in Royal David's City".
Featured Article:
Hymns for Little Children: the life and legacy of Cecil Frances Alexander by Vincent A. Lenti (from "The Hymn")

Texts by Cecil Frances Alexander (163)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
දාවිත්ගේ පුරෙහි වරක් (Dāvitgē purehi varak)Cecil F. Alexander (Author)Sinhala2
A cada flor que se abreCecil Humphreys Alexander (1818-1895) (Author)Spanish2
A gentle and a holy childCecil F. Alexander (Author)English4
Adda napintas a turodCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Tagalog2
All things beautiful and fairCecil Frances Alexander, 1823-1895 (Author)English2
All creatures bright and beautifulCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English5
Each little flower that opensCecil F. Alexander (Author)English288
At Nazareth in olden timeCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English5
Auferstanden, auferstanden, Sagt es allenCecil F. Alexander (Author)German2
Beyond the wicked [holy] city wallCecil F. Alexander (Author)English8
ഭംഗിയേറും സൃഷ്ടികൾ (Bhaṅgiyēṟuṁ sr̥ṣṭikaḷ)Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)Malayalam2
Blessed are the pure in heart, They have loved the better partMrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, 1823-1895 (Author)English6
Blessed were they who, in the days of oldCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Çdo lule t’but’ që hapetCecil F. Alexander (Author)Albanian2
Child, ere thou wander forth to playMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
Christ be with me, Christ within meCecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) (Version by)English11
Christ is kind and gentleCecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
Christian children must be holyCecil F. Alexander (Author)English13
Come to our joyous marriage feastCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Cristo chama nos tumultosCecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author)Portuguese2
Cristo ha resucitado, ¡aleluya!Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895 (Author)Spanish1
Cristo llama del tumultoCecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895 (Author)Spanish3
Day by day the little daisyCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Dear Lord, on this Thy servant's dayCecil Frances Alexander (Author)2
Desde el cielo Cristo llamaCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish6
Do no sinful actionC. F. Alexander (Author)English61
Do not quarrel, do not chideMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
Each day we live the Christian lifeCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Einstens ward zu Bethlehem JudaCecil Frances Alexander (Author)German1
En Belén hubo un establoCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish2
En el Calvario, con dolorCecil Alexander (Author)Spanish2
En la reĝa BetlehemoCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Esperanto2
EN lando malproksime forCecil Frances Alexander (Author)6
En un lejano cerro fueCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish2
Es steht ein' Hügel weit von hierCecil F. Alexander (Author)German1
Every morning the red sunCecil F Alexander (Author)English62
For all Thy saints, a noble throngCecil F. Alexander (Author)English9
Forgive them, O my FatherMrs. C. F. Alexander, 1823-95 (Author)English27
Forsaken once, and thrice deniedMrs. C. F. Alexander, 1823-95 (Author)English10
From out the cloud of amber lightCecil Frances Alexander (Author)3
Hallowed be our Father's nameMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
He cometh, on your hallowed boardCecil Frances Alexander (Author)2
He is coming, He is coming, Not as once He came beforeMrs. C. F. Alexander (Author)English38
He is risen, He is risen; Tell it out with joyful voiceC. F. Alexander (Author)English99
He pu'u omao aia ma oCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Hawaiian3
Hea Iesu ia kakou laCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Hawaiian3
His are the thousand sparkling rillsMrs. C. F. Alexander (Author)English23
Ho, Wicoḣaŋ ṡicaCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Dakota2
How good is the Almighty GodCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English3
Hush, little Christian childMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English2
I bind myself to God todayCecil F. Alexander (1818-1895) (Alterer)5
I bind this day to me for everCecil F. Alexander (Translator and Paraphraser)2
I bind unto myself todayCecil Frances Alexander (Translator)English55
I knew a little, sickly childMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
I love the little snowdrop flowerCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
I think when I read that sweet story of old (Luke)Mrs. Jemima Thompson Luke (1813- ) (Author)English2
Ich kenne einen stillen OrtC. F. Alexander (Author)German3
If hasty hand or bitter tongueCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
In the rich man's garden groundCecil F. Alexander (Author)3
Is there a little orphan childCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
It was early in the morning of the first day of the weekCecil F. Alexander (Author)English2
Jerusalem, why are thy voices dumb?Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Jesus, Holy, undefiled, Listen to a little childCecil F. Alexander (Author)English2
Jesus calls us from the worshipCecil F. Alexander (Author)2
Jesus calls us, Jesus calls usCecil F. Alexander (Author)3
Jesus calls us, o'er the tumultMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English850
Jesus came to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of allCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Jesus nehesevamaenėCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Cheyenne2
ജീവതത്തിൻ ആഴി മീതെ (Jīvatattin āḻi mīte)Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)Malayalam2
لا تفعل الإثم ولا تنطق بقول غضبCecil F. Alexander (Author)Arabic1
Las flores y los pájaros Dios sólo pudo hacerCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish3
Las flores y los pájaros criaturas son de DiosCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish3
Little birds sleep sweetly In their soft round nestsMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English4
Little children must be quietCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
Maranatha, He is coming, Not as once He came beforeCecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
每朶開放的小花 (Měi duǒ kāifàng de xiǎohuā)Cecil F. Alexander (Author)Chinese4
Mjini mwake DaudiCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Swahili2
Najiŋ! najiŋ ce! Iye ḥcaCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Dakota2
Ni Jesus ayabannatayCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Tagalog2
Now the dreary night is doneMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
Numa estrebaria rudeCecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author)Portuguese2
O Christian child, in Christ's own churchMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
O come, dear child, along with meCecil F. Alexander (Author)English8
O, ever on our earthly pathCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
O happy home where Thou art loved the dearestCecil F. Alexander (Author)English10
O Jesus, bruised and wounded moreCecil F. Alexander (Author)English19
O Lord, the Holy InnocentsCecil F. Alexander (Author)English14
O monte verde ali estáCecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author)2
O Son of God, in glory crownedC. F. Alexander (Author)English10
O for the pearly gates of heavenCecil F. Alexander (Author)English8
On the dark hill's western sideMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English4
On the goods that are not thineMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
Once in baptismal waters brightMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
Once in Bethlehem of JudahCecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (Author)English16
Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle-shedCecil F. Alexander (Author)English339
ஓர் குன்று தூர உண்டங்கே (Ōr kuṉṟu tūra uṇṭaṅkē)Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)Tamil2
Pain and toil are over nowCecil F. Alexander (Author)English8
പട്ടണ-വാതിലപ്പുറം (Paṭṭaṇa-vātilappuṟaṁ)Cecil F. Alexander (Author)Malayalam2
Put the spade and wheel awayMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
قد بدا في بيت لحمCecil F. Alexander (Author)Arabic1
രാജൻ ദാ-വീദൂരിൽ പണ്ടു (Rājan dā-vīdūril paṇṭu)Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)Malayalam2
Savior, to Thy cottage homeCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Savior, blessed Savior, Listen while we singMrs. C. F. Alexander (Author)English2
Saw ye never in the meadowsMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
Saw you never, in the twilightCecil F. Alexander (Author)English72
So be it, Lord, the prayers are prayedMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English4
Souls in heathen darkness lyingCecil F. Alexander (Author)English53
Spirit of God, that moved of oldCecil Frances Alexander (1818-95) (Author)English21
Still bright and blue doth Jordan flowCecil Frances Alexander (Author)4
The angels stand around thy throneCecil F. Alexander (Author)English6
The blind man, in his darknessCecil F. Alexander (Author)English7
The board is spread with meats divineCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
The faithful men of every landCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English5
The flower that in the lowly valeCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
The golden gates are lifted upCecil F. Alexander (Author)English124
The heavenly Father loves the birdsCecil F. Alexander (Author)3
The raven builds her nest on highMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
The rich man did of Pilate craveCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
The roseate hues of early dawnCecil F. Alexander (Author)English103
The saints of God are holy menMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
The sick man in his chamberCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
The Son of God, so high, so greatCecil F. Alexander (Author)English9
The sunset falls on Isaac's tentCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
The waving fields of yellow cornCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
The wildflowers in their beautyCecil Frances Alexander (Author (vv. 2 alt., 5, and refrain))English2
The wise men to thy cradle throneCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English7
There are no little things on earthCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
There are strange countries far awayMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
There is a green hill far awayCecil F. Alexander (Author)English613
There is a land where flowers are fairMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
There is one God, but one aloneCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
There is one way, and only oneC. F. Alexander (Author)English10
There was a little lowly upper roomCecil Frances Alexander (Author)2
There's many a happy household bandCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Thou Power and Peace, in whom we findCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English10
Through many a far and foreign landCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
Thy Temple is not made with handsC. F. Alexander (Author)English9
Un monte hay más allá del marCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Spanish4
Una vez en un establoCecil Frances Alexander (Author (st. 1-2, 4-6))Spanish3
Unnipi taja s'a etanCecil Frances Alexander (Author)Dakota2
Up in heaven, up in heavenCecil F. Alexander (Author)English13
Upo mlima karibu Cecil Frances Alexander (Author)Swahili1
Wake little child, the morn is gayCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
We are but little children weak (Alexander)Cecil F. Alexander (1823- ) (Author)English55
We are little Christian children, We can run, and talk, and playCecil F. Alexander (Author)English20
We may not know, we cannot tellCecil Frances Alexander (Author (attributed to))1
We need thee, Savior, when dear eyes are closingCecil F. Alexander (Author)3
We see the leaves fall withered from the treesCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
We seek a land of more delightCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
We walk amid a world of beauteous thingsCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English2
We were only little babiesCecil Francis Alexander (Author)English3
We were washed in holy waterCecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
When Christ came down on earth of oldCecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
When Jesus came to earth of oldCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English6
When of old the Jewish mothersCecil F. Alexander (Author)English15
When thou art kneeling down at nightMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
When we speak of the Lord JesusMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English3
When wounded sore the stricken soulC. F. Alexander (Author)English82
Why do we say, Thy kingdom comeMrs. Cecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
Within the churchyard, side by sideCecil Frances Alexander (Author)English4
Within the temple's hallowed wallsCecil F. Alexander (Author)English5
يسوع نادى حينماCecil F. Alexander (Author)Arabic1
遠山迢迢,其色青青,(Yuǎnshān tiáotiáo, qí sè qīngqīng,)Cecil F. H. Alexander (Author)Chinese2

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