We Believe

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We saw Thee not when Thou didst come

Author: Anne R. Richter (1834)
Published in 115 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	A Wesley Organbook: Eight Hymn Tune Prel…

Choral
	Abound in Hope

Instrumental
	Festive Hymn Settings

Representative Text

1 We saw Thee not when Thou didst come
To this poor world of sin and death;
Nor yet beheld Thy cottage home,
In that despised Nazareth;

Refrain:
But we believe Thy footsteps trod
Its streets and plains, Thou Son of God:
But we believe Thy footsteps trod
Its streets and plains, Thou Son of God.

2 We saw Thee not when lifted high
Amid that wild and savage crew;
Nor heard we that imploring cry,
"Forgive, they know not what they do!"

Refrain:
But we believe the deed was done,
That shook the earth and veiled the sun;
But we believe the deed was done,
That shook the earth and veiled the sun;

3 We gazed not in the open tomb,
Where once Thy mangled body lay;
Nor saw Thee in that "upper room,"
Nor met Thee on the open way;

Refrain:
But we believe that angels said,
"Why seek the living with the dead?"
But we believe that angels said,
"Why seek the living with the dead?"

4 We walked not with the chosen few,
Who saw Thee from the earth ascend;
Who raised to heav'n their wond'ring view,
Then low to earth all prostrate bend;

Refrain:
But we believe that human eyes
Beheld that journey to the skies;
But we believe that human eyes
Beheld that journey to the skies.

Source: Christian Hymns: for every purpose in worship #201

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Author: Anne R. Richter

Richter, Anne, ne'e Rigby, was the third daughter of the Rev. Robert Rigby, Vicar of St. Mary's, Beverley, Yorkshire, from 1791 to 1823, and married the Rev. W. H. Richter, sometime Chaplain of the County Gaol at Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and then Rector of St. Paul's, Lincoln. Mrs. Richter died at 23 Minster Yard, Lincoln, in 1857. She contributed to various magazines, and published The Nun and Other Poems, Hull, 1841. Her intimate literary acquaintances included Mrs. Hemans. Mrs. Richter was descended from the celebrated John Bradshaw, whose name is the first in the list of the signatures on the death warrant of Charles I. Her hymn, "We have not seen Thy footsteps tread," in its altered form as "We saw Thee not when Thou didst come,"… Go to person page >

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First Line:	We saw Thee not when Thou didst come
Title:	We Believe
Author:	Anne R. Richter (1834)
Meter:	8.8.8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

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We saw thee not when thou didst come

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Tune

WE SAW THEE NOT

CREDO (Stainer)

John Stainer (b. Southwark, London, England, 1840; d. Verona, Italy, 1901) composed CREDO for the text "We Saw Thee Not When Thou Didst Come"; the tune was published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1875). CREDO, like some other Victorian tunes, depends as much on its harmonization as on its melody for…

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