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Author: John H. Hopkins, Jr. Appears in 4 hymnals Hymnal Title: The Cyber Hymnal First Line: At Bethlehem, in wintry cold Refrain First Line: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Lyrics: 1. At Bethlehem, in wintry cold, The faithful shepherds guard their fold: The crowded town is sunk in sleep, While midnight vigil still they keep. And rocks and hills are ringing, While they, to shield their sheep from harm, And keep themselves awake and warm, Are cheerily, loudly singing, Refrain Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, Praise the Lord! 2. Their fleecy flocks are gathered round, All lying on the frosty ground, And new-born lambkins may be seen, Close nestling, here and there, between. Their shepherds thus surrounding, With tuneful heart and wakeful ear, Their livelong night they love to hear, The rocks and hills resounding, [Refrain] 3. When lo! an angel, from on high, Came sailing down the starry sky; A glory all around him shined, And left a track of light behind. His way thus swiftly winging, From far he smiles with radiant joy, That shepherds thus their voice employ, All night in sweetly singing— [Refrain] 4. Fear not, said he—for at the sight The simple shepherds start with fright— Fear not, for unto you this morn In David’s town a Babe is born: Tis Christ, your Lord and Savior, Whose reign, when He is crownèd King, Shall make both men and angels sing, For ever and for ever. [Refrain] 5. While yet he spake, in robes of flame A flying cloud of angels came; Upon the midnight air loud rang Their golden harps, while thus they sang: To God on high be glory: And peace on earth, good will to men! Angels and shepherds joining then, Thus hail the wondrous story, [Refrain] 6. Their leader then those hosts obey, Unfold their wings and soar away Yet loud their golden strings they ply All singing, harping, as they fly; Chorus to chorus calling. Till past the stars they disappear, That song the listening shepherds hear, Still faint and fainter falling, [Refrain] 7. Then straight they go to Bethlehem, Their flocks all following after them; They find the Babe in manger laid, With Joseph and the mother-maid; Before Him lowly kneeling, They tell their tale: the infant King Smiles sweetly on them while they sing, With joy that cavern thrilling, [Refrain] 8. Returning, they the tale repeat Through all the long day-dawning street; From door and window crowds look out, To hear their strange, yet joyous shout. Their sheep still follow, bleating; And all that hear the shepherds’ song, With burning heart and tingling tongue, Send on the angelic greeting— [Refrain] 9. And every Christmas-tide, that song More numerous sounds, and yet more strong; From age to age, from pole to pole, It rolls along, and yet shall roll: Till, crowned with splendor glorious, That Babe shall come again, a King, And saints and angels all shall sing, In endless, boundless chorus— [Refrain] Used With Tune: [At Bethlehem, in wintry cold] Text Sources: Carols, Hymns and Songs (New York: Church Book Depository, 1863), pages 9-10

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[At Bethlehem, in wintry cold]

Appears in 3 hymnals Hymnal Title: Carols, Hymns, and Songs Incipit: 56534 56556 53456 Used With Text: The Shepherds of Bethlehem

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The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Hymnal: Carols, Hymns, and Songs #9 (1863) Hymnal Title: Carols, Hymns, and Songs First Line: At Bethlehem, in wintry cold Refrain First Line: Alleluia, Alleluia Languages: English Tune Title: [At Bethlehem, in wintry cold]

The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Hymnal: Carols, Hymns, and Songs #15 (1882) Hymnal Title: Carols, Hymns, and Songs First Line: At Bethlehem, in wintry cold Refrain First Line: Alleluia, Alleluia Languages: English Tune Title: [At Bethlehem, in wintry cold]

The Shepherds of Bethlehem

Author: John H. Hopkins, Jr. Hymnal: The Cyber Hymnal #6028 Hymnal Title: The Cyber Hymnal First Line: At Bethlehem, in wintry cold Refrain First Line: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Lyrics: 1. At Bethlehem, in wintry cold, The faithful shepherds guard their fold: The crowded town is sunk in sleep, While midnight vigil still they keep. And rocks and hills are ringing, While they, to shield their sheep from harm, And keep themselves awake and warm, Are cheerily, loudly singing, Refrain Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, Praise the Lord! 2. Their fleecy flocks are gathered round, All lying on the frosty ground, And new-born lambkins may be seen, Close nestling, here and there, between. Their shepherds thus surrounding, With tuneful heart and wakeful ear, Their livelong night they love to hear, The rocks and hills resounding, [Refrain] 3. When lo! an angel, from on high, Came sailing down the starry sky; A glory all around him shined, And left a track of light behind. His way thus swiftly winging, From far he smiles with radiant joy, That shepherds thus their voice employ, All night in sweetly singing— [Refrain] 4. Fear not, said he—for at the sight The simple shepherds start with fright— Fear not, for unto you this morn In David’s town a Babe is born: Tis Christ, your Lord and Savior, Whose reign, when He is crownèd King, Shall make both men and angels sing, For ever and for ever. [Refrain] 5. While yet he spake, in robes of flame A flying cloud of angels came; Upon the midnight air loud rang Their golden harps, while thus they sang: To God on high be glory: And peace on earth, good will to men! Angels and shepherds joining then, Thus hail the wondrous story, [Refrain] 6. Their leader then those hosts obey, Unfold their wings and soar away Yet loud their golden strings they ply All singing, harping, as they fly; Chorus to chorus calling. Till past the stars they disappear, That song the listening shepherds hear, Still faint and fainter falling, [Refrain] 7. Then straight they go to Bethlehem, Their flocks all following after them; They find the Babe in manger laid, With Joseph and the mother-maid; Before Him lowly kneeling, They tell their tale: the infant King Smiles sweetly on them while they sing, With joy that cavern thrilling, [Refrain] 8. Returning, they the tale repeat Through all the long day-dawning street; From door and window crowds look out, To hear their strange, yet joyous shout. Their sheep still follow, bleating; And all that hear the shepherds’ song, With burning heart and tingling tongue, Send on the angelic greeting— [Refrain] 9. And every Christmas-tide, that song More numerous sounds, and yet more strong; From age to age, from pole to pole, It rolls along, and yet shall roll: Till, crowned with splendor glorious, That Babe shall come again, a King, And saints and angels all shall sing, In endless, boundless chorus— [Refrain] Languages: English Tune Title: [At Bethlehem, in wintry cold]

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John H. Hopkins

1820 - 1891 Person Name: John Henry Hopkins Hymnal Title: Calvin Hymnary Project Author of "The Shepherds of Bethlehem" John Henry Hopkins, Jr MA USA 1820-1891. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, having 12 siblings, the son of pioneer parents (his father from Dublin, his mother from Hamburg) he became an ecclesiologist. His father had been an ironmaster, school teacher, lawyer, priest and second Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, (becoming presiding bishop in 1865). When his father founded the Vermont Episcopal Institute, he needed an assistant to help run it, so he picked his son to become a tutor and disciplinarian. The younger Hopkins played the flute and bugle in the school orchestra and also taught Sunday school. John Henry reflected the artistic talents of both parents in music, poetry, and art. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1839, he returned to help his father with the school, but a financial crisis hit that year and the school had to close. He worked as a reported in New York City while studying law. He developed a throat ailment and went south to be in a warmer climate. From 1842-1844 he tutored the children of Episcopal Bishop Elliott of Savannah, GA, returning to take his M.A. from Vermont in 1845. He graduated from General Theological Seminary in 1850 and was ordained a deacon, serving as first instructor in church music at the Seminary. He founded and edited the “Church Journal” from 1853 to 1868. Interested in New York’s Ecclesiological Society, his artistic talents were apparent in designing stained-glass windows, episcopal seals, and a variety of other church ornaments. At the same time, his musical talents led to the writing and composing of a number of fine hymns and tunes, as well as anthems and services. He was ordained a priest in 1872, and was Rector of Trinity Church, Plattsburg, NY, from 1872-1876, then of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA, from 1876-1887. He helped get the building debt paid off by 1879 with(in 10 years of its construction). During his time there a Sunday school building was also erected, having steam heat and a tiled floor. He designed some of the church furniture and bishop periphernalia as well as wrought iron tombs in Wildwood Cemetery. He also helped design two other church buildings in the area. A man of many talents, he was much beloved as a scholar, writer, preacher, controvertialist, musician, poet, and artist, excelling in all that he did. Totally devoted to his parish people, he especially loved children and was kind to anyone in need. He was considered very down-to-earth. He delivered the eulogy at the funeral of President Usysses S Grant in 1885. He was considered a great developer of hymnody in the Episcopal Church in the mid-19th century. His “Carols, hymns, and songs,”, published in 1863, had a 4th edition in 1883. In 1887 he edited “Great hymns of the church”. He wrote a biography of his father (the life of John Henry Hopkins, S.T.D.) He never married. He died at Hudson, NY. John Perry ======================= Hopkins, John Henry, D.D., Jun., son of J. H. Hopkins, sometime Bishop of Vermont, was born at Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 28, 1820, educated at the University of Vermont, ordained in 1850, Rector of Christ's Church, Williamsport, Pa., 1876, and died at Troy, New York, Aug. 13, 1891. He published Poems by the Wayside written during more than Forty Years, N.Y., James Pott, 1883; and Carols, Hymns, and Songs, 1862; 3rd ed. 1882. Of his hymns the following are in common use: 1. Blow on, thou [ye] mighty Wind. Missions. 2. Come with us, O blessed Jesus. Holy Communion. 3. Glory to God the Father be. (Dated 1867.) Holy Trinity. 4. God hath made the moon whose beam. (Dated 1840.) Duty. 5. Lord, now round Thy Church behold. (Dated 1867.) For the Reunion of Christendom. These hymns are in his Poems by the Wayside, 1883. In the same volume there are translations of the O Antiphons. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) ============== Hopkins, J. H., p. 1571, ii. The following additional hymns by him are in the American Hymnal, revised and enlarged .... Protestant Episcopal Church. . . U.S.A., 1892:— 1. God of our fathers, bless this our land. National Hymn. 2. When from the east the wise men came. Epiphany. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)