Rich beyond all splendour

Christmas eve we went to a nearby church for their 10 pm service, since it was logistically impossible to get our own church on Christmas day (I had one side of the extended family all turning up for lunch, and the other side for tea, and my back still has its limitations). We sang a song I had never heard of before, though the tune was familiar, i had learned it in school choir as an old French carol "Whence is that goodly fargrance .." While I love the traditional carols (at least the D & M ones)it was special to have the story retold from a fresh angle, with different images. The modernised words we sang are copyright, but dear old Google found me the original online ...



Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
-- Frank Houghton (1894-1972)