“Once in Royal David’s City:” A Timeless Reminder of the Gospel Message of Christmas
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“Once in Royal David’s City” is a song that had humble beginnings, but now holds a place of prominence each year in one particular service that is broadcast around the world by the BBC World Service and American Public Media.
The carol is the opening processional hymn for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge in England. This has been the tradition since 1919.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve 1918, following World War I, which ended on November 11, 1918. A change in the order of service made the following year, including a rearrangement of the lessons, led to the service beginning with the hymn “Once in Royal David’s City.”
As the choir proceeds up the nave of the magnificent chapel towards the choir stalls and the altar, the first verse of the carol is sung as a solo by a boy chorister. The second verse is sung by the choir, and the congregation joins in the third verse. The arrangement, by Dr. Arthur Henry Mann, the organist at King’s from 1876 and 1929, is beautiful and moving.
According to tradition, the soloist for the first verse is chosen by the choirmaster immediately prior to the service. This is an honor for the individual choirboy and also a blessing because, with such short notice, it gives him little time to become nervous.
The History behind “Once in Royal David’s City”
“Once in Royal David’s City” was written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander.
Alexander was born in Dublin, Ireland in April 1818, the third child and second daughter of Major John Humphreys of Norfolk and Elizabeth Frances Reed. She began writing verse in her childhood.
By the 1840s Alexander was known as a hymn writer and her compositions were included in Church of Ireland hymn books. “Once in Royal David’s City” is not her only popular hymn. She also wrote "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "There Is a Green Hill Far Away."
Cecil Frances Humphreys married William Alexander in October 1850, an Anglican clergyman who, in 1867, became the Bishop of Derry and Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland. The couple then lived with their four children in the Bishop’s Palace in Derry, also known as Londonderry. Her husband also wrote poetry, as did their daughter, Eleanor Jane Alexander.
Alexander was involved in charitable work for much of her life and the proceeds from her hymn writing went towards the charities she supported.
Alexander died in 1895 and is buried in Derry City Cemetery. Her husband is buried beside her. Her memory and hymn writing is also recognized across Derry. Her grave was restored in 2006 by the Friends of St. Columba's Cathedral. An Ulster History Circle commemorative blue plaque, unveiled in 1995, marks the family’s home in Bishop Street, Londonderry. A stained glass window has been installed in St. Columb's Cathedral in Derry, Northern Ireland and one of the windows depicts a scene representing "Once in Royal David's City."
When Was the Carol Published?
“Once in Royal David’s City” was first published in 1848 in Alexander’s hymnbook, “Hymns for Little Children.”
The collection of poems in “Hymns for Little Children” aimed to explain to children, and likely make more memorable and enjoyable, parts of the Apostles' Creed. "Once in Royal David's City" tells the story of the birth of Jesus to make clear "Born of the Virgin Mary."
By the end of the 19th century, “Hymns for Little Children” had reached its 69th edition. The hymnbook is still available.
The proceeds from “Hymns for Little Children” made a generous contribution to one of Alexander’s charities, the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb in Strabane, Northern Ireland. Alexander helped set up the institution with money from her publications. Unfortunately, the school was destroyed by a fire in 1856 and some of the children lost their lives. Today, Alexander is recognized for her leading role in deaf education.
The Lyrics to “Once in David’s Royal City”
Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
-
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
-
And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
-
For he is our childhood’s pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
-
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
-
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
What Is the Significance of These Lyrics?
Knowing this poem was written for children gives sense to the lyrics. “Once” is similar to how a fairy tale starts, as in “Once upon a time.” However, I am sure Alexander never intended for the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth to be thought of as a fairy tale or make-believe.
Other lyrics also seem to be directed at children and educating them in their behavior: “Christian children all must be/ Mild, obedient, good as He” and “For he is our childhood’s pattern/ Day by day, like us He grew.” Although nowadays we encourage children to behave well and to be good children for their parents, the Victorian era in particular expected children to have impeccable behavior and to be “seen and not heard.”
The verses, or stanzas, also suit the hymn being used as a processional carol, as used in the service at King’s College Cambridge. With: “Once in Royal David’s city/ Stood a lowly cattle shed” to “We shall see Him; but in heaven/ Set at God’s right hand on high.” The verses lead those listening from the baby in the manger in the opening lines to the magnificence of Jesus in heaven set at God’s right hand in the final verse.
Some critics have found the last verse too sentimental, and omit it. Others have attempted to rewrite the end of verse three saying it is “neither real or psychologically sound.” Thus changing “Christian children all must be/ Mild, obedient, good as he” to: “Yet this child, our Lord and brother/ brought us love for one another.”
Other changes may be found in verse four: “childhood’s pattern” becoming “lifelong pattern,” and “He was little, weak, and helpless” becoming “he was tempted, scorned, rejected.”
Interpretation of the final line has also led to discussion as to what Alexander meant by the words: “Where like stars His children crowned/ All in white shall wait around.” Some suggest Alexander may have been influenced by the high infant and child mortality rate in her times and been thinking about the children who died. Others, that the popularity of Victorian cherubs with children’s faces could have played a part when she wrote these words.
The Broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge
The details of the broadcast for The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols can be found here.
Sources:
“History of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” King’s College Cambridge
“Once in royal David’s city,” Hymnology Archive
“Cecil Frances Alexander,” Dictionary of Ulster Biography
“Once in royal David’s city,” The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
“Cecil Frances Alexander: A pioneer of deaf education,” BBC News
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