All glory to God in the sky

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1707. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the S.P.G. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. To Charles Wesley has been justly assigned the appellation of the "Bard of Methodism." His prominence in hymn writing may be judged from the fact that in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book," 623 of the 770 hymns were written by him; and he published more than thirty poetical works, written either by himself alone,… Go to person page >

All glory to God in the sky. C. Wesley. [Christmas.] This is No. xviii. of his Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord, 1744, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines. In 1780 it was given in full in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, No. 211, and has been repeated in all later editions. (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iv. p. 125.) Its use amongst the Methodist bodies in all English-speaking countries is considerable; but outside of Methodism it is but little known.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)