The year begins with Thee. J. Keble. [Circumcision.] Written June 20, 1824, and 1st published in his Christian Year, 1827, in 17 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed with the text "In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands." In its full form it is not in common use. It has, however, supplied the following centos to modern hymnbooks:— (1) "The year begins [began] with Thee." In several collections; (2) "Art Thou a child of tears? " and “Is there a mourner true? " In a few collections only. The poem as a whole is better adapted for private devotion than for public worship.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)