Lyricist: Cecil Frances Alexander

From HymnsWithoutWords

Biography

Cecil Frances Alexander born Cecil Frances Humphreys in Dublin, spent a good part of her later life in Londonderry and Strabane. She married William Alexander, a Derry man, who was appointed the Church of Ireland bishop of Derry in 1867. He later became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

Cecil Frances was a keen supporter of the Oxford Movement, and in 1848 published Hymns For Little Children, which include three of the most popular hymns in the English language: "Once in Royal David's City," "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "There is a Green Hill Far Away." Charles Gounod, the composer of Faust, said that some of her lyrics "seemed to set themselves to music."