Once in Royal David’s City

This page includes a lyric video, a brief history, and other resources for the Christmas carol “Once in Royal David’s City.” Enjoy!
Once in Royal David's City
Enjoy this You Tube video with lyrics of “Once in Royal David’s City”:

History of “Once in Royal David’s City”:

Cecil Alexander, the daughter of an English army officer, was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1818. She began writing verses in her childhood, and by her 20s, she was recognized as a gifted hymn writer.

According to The New Oxford Book of Carols, the song “Once in Royal David’s City” was conceived by Cecil “after overhearing a group of her godchildren complaining about the dreariness of the catechism.” Cecil masterfully took doctrines from the Apostle’s Creed and simplified them for her hymns. Note how she imparts the teaching that Jesus was “conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary”:

Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all.

Cecil’s other popular hymn, “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” highlights the teaching from the Creed that God is “Maker of heaven and earth.” These songs were both published in Cecil’s Hymns for Little Children, 1848. Cecil dedicated her hymns as follows: “To my little godsons I inscribe these simple lines, hoping that the language of verse, which children love, may help to impress on their minds what they are . . . and what they must seek to be.”

Cecil wrote about 400 hymns in her lifetime and used the money for charitable purposes. She helped to build a school for the deaf and dumb, was involved with a home for “fallen women,” and helped to develop nursing services in her area. She was a tireless advocate (and visitor) of the poor and sick.

At the age of 32, Cecil married William Alexander, an Anglican clergyman, who would later become the Archbishop of Armagh. He wrote several books of poetry as well, and Cecil served by his side until her death at age 77.

A year after Cecil published her now famous hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City,” Henry Gaunlett, a gifted English musician, set it to music. Gauntlett had spent the first half of his career as a lawyer before abandoning his practice to pursue music. He served as the organist at a number of leading London churches. Gauntlett was a prolific writer and is said to have composed over 1000 hymn tunes. He made tremendous contributions to the world of music, even inventing mechanical improvements to the organ. As a result, he was praised by the famous Felix Mendelssohn and was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For more intriguing history on 20 other classic Christmas songs, you can purchase our Christmas Songs eBook (only $2.99; use code “celebrate20” for 20% off).

For additional resources (like original sheet music), visit Hymns and Carols of Christmas or Net Hymnal.

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