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Tune Identifier:"^christchild_brownborthwick$"

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CHRISTCHILD

Meter: 6.6.6.6.8.8 Appears in 4 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: R. Brown-Borthwick Tune Key: C Major Incipit: 17656 57776 75517

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Behold a little Child

Appears in 18 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Behold a little Child Laid in a manger bed, The wintry blasts blow wild . . . Around His infant head; But who is this so lowly laid? 'Tis He by whom the worlds were made. 2 Alas! in what poor state The Son of God is seen; Why doth the Lord so great Choose out a home so mean? That we may learn from pride to flee, And follow His humility. 3 Where Joseph plies his trade, Lo! Jesus labours too; The hands that all things made An earthly craft pursue, That weary men on Him may rest, And faithful toil in Him be blest. 4 Among the doctors see The Boy so full of grace: Say, wherefore taketh He The scholar's lowly place? That Christian boys with reverence meet May sit and learn at Jesus' feet. 5 Christ! once Thyself a boy, Our boyhood guard and guide; Be Thou its light and joy, And still with us abide; That Thy dear love, so great, so free, May draw us evermore to Thee. Amen. Topics: Our Lord Jesus Christ Christmas Used With Tune: CHRISTCHILD

Instances

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Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals
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Behold a little Child

Hymnal: Voices of Praise #55 (1883) Lyrics: 1 Behold a little Child Laid in a manger bed, The wintry blasts blow wild . . . Around His infant head; But who is this so lowly laid? 'Tis He by whom the worlds were made. 2 Alas! in what poor state The Son of God is seen; Why doth the Lord so great Choose out a home so mean? That we may learn from pride to flee, And follow His humility. 3 Where Joseph plies his trade, Lo! Jesus labours too; The hands that all things made An earthly craft pursue, That weary men on Him may rest, And faithful toil in Him be blest. 4 Among the doctors see The Boy so full of grace: Say, wherefore taketh He The scholar's lowly place? That Christian boys with reverence meet May sit and learn at Jesus' feet. 5 Christ! once Thyself a boy, Our boyhood guard and guide; Be Thou its light and joy, And still with us abide; That Thy dear love, so great, so free, May draw us evermore to Thee. Amen. Topics: Our Lord Jesus Christ Christmas Languages: English Tune Title: CHRISTCHILD
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Behold a little Child, Laid in a manger bed

Hymnal: The Sunday-School Hymnal and Service Book (Ed. A) #225 (1887) Languages: English Tune Title: CHRISTCHILD
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Behold a little Child

Hymnal: Carols Old and Carols New #50 (1916) Topics: Christmas Languages: English Tune Title: [Behold a little Child]

People

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Authors, composers, editors, etc.

Robert Brown-Borthwick

1840 - 1894 Person Name: R. Brown-Borthwick Composer of "CHRISTCHILD" Brown-Borthwick, Robert, born at Aberdeen, May 18, 1840, and educated at St. Mary Hall, Oxford. Taking Holy Orders in 1865, he has been Curate of Sudeley (and Chaplain of the Winchcombs Union), Gloucestershire, 1865-6, and Evesham, 1866-8; Assistant Minister of Quebec Chapel, London, 1868-9; and Incumbent of Holy Trinity, Grange, near Keswick, 1869. He is now (1886) Vicar of All Saints, Scarborough. His publications, in addition to his prose works, are:— Supplemental Hymn and Tune Book, 1867 (4th edition, 1871); Sixteen Hymns for Church and Home, 1870; Select Hymns for Church and Home, 1871; and various Kyries, Hymn Tunes, Chants, &c. In addition he has rendered good service as one of the four Editors of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns. In this last work three of his best hymns are found: “Come, O Jesu, to Thy Table"; "O Holy Jesu, Prince of Peace”; "Let us raise our grateful voices." Canon Westcott in his Paragraph Psalter acknowledges Mr. Brown-Borthwick's assistance in preparing that work for the press as of great value thereto. He died March 17, 1894. Of Mr. Brown-Borthwick's hymns the following appeared in his Sixteen Hymns, &c, 1870:— 1. Come, O Jesus, to Thy Table. Holy Communion. 2. Lord, in the watches of the night. Midnight. 3. O Holy Jesu, Prince of Peace. Holy Communion. The author's note to this hymn is, "This is not a congregational hymn, but a meditation, to be read while non-communicants are retiring, or to be sung by the choir alone, anthem-wise, kneeling." These hymns were repeated in his Select Hymns, &c, 1871-85. The following is also in that collection:— 4. Let us raise our grateful [gladsome] voices . Flower Services, or Thanksgiving. "Written in Borrowdale, on a summer morning in 1870," and published in the S. P. C. K. Church Hymns, 1871, &c. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)