by Annette Christensen

The Apostles’ Creed (click here to hear our original composition of “The Apostle’s Creed”) is a very important, very old document in the Christian church. It states, in a nutshell, the basic truths of the Christian church. But those truths are very big and important, and sometimes hard for children to understand. Cecil Francis Alexander knew this, so she wrote a whole series of hymns for children, to help them understand the doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. Some of those hymns are still loved today: Once in Royal David’s City was written to explain “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”; There is a Green Hill Far Away explained “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried”; and the hymn we are talking about today, All Things Bright and Beautiful, was written to explain (God the Father), “maker of heaven and earth”.

Cecil Francis Humphrey Alexander was a gifted poet and hymn writer. She was born in Ireland in 1818, and started writing poems when she was only nine. Some of her hymns were already included in the Church of Ireland hymn book in the 1840’s. She wrote primarily for children, and her poetry was mainly to teach about God and the Bible. Always concerned for children, with the money from her first publications she established the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, founded in 1846 in Strabane. In 1848 she published Hymns for Little Children and profits from this book were also donated to the school. The Derry Home for Fallen Women, and developing a district nurses service, were also projects that Cecil helped.

In 1850, Cecil married Reverend William Alexander, a clergyman and also a published poet. They shared a ministry to the poor, and Rev. Alexander once wrote about his wife ” From one poor home to another she went, Christ was ever with her, and in her, and all felt her influence.” Another unnamed historian also said of her ” Day after day she rode over the wet moorlands in all weathers; carrying food, warm clothing, and medical supplies to the impoverished and sick.” She wrote many other books of hymns and poems for children helping them understand Christian doctrines, whole sections of the Old Testament, and the 10 Commandments. Again, whatever she earned from these books she used for the poor. One of the few hymns that she wrote for adults was Jesus Calls Us, written at her husband’s request to accompany his sermon on the calling of Andrew by Jesus on the shores of Galilee.

All Things Bright And Beautiful (click here to purchase our beginner piano arrangement) is a hymn that is still well loved. It can be sung to several melodies, including Royal Oak, and All Things Bright And Beautiful by Henry Monk. One tune is quite lively and has quite a range of notes, the other is simpler and is easier to adapt for beginner piano.

Another interesting note about All Things Bright And Beautiful: the four phrases of the chorus were used as the titles of four books by James Herriot about a veterinary practice in the 1930’s in Yorkshire, England.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

1.Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
All things bright and beautiful…

2. The rich man in his castle
The poor man at his gate
He made them High and lowly
He ordered their estate.
All things bright and beautiful…

4. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one:
All things bright …

5. The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;−
All things bright …

6. He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
All things bright …