Christ Thou the champion of that war-worn host

Representative Text

1 Christ, Thou the Champion of the band who own
Thy cross, O make Thy succor quickly known!
The schemes of those who long our blood have sought
Bring Thou to naught.

2 Do Thou Thyself for us Thy children fight,
Withstand the Devil, quell his rage and might,
Whate'er assails Thy members left below,
Do Thou o'erthrow.

3 And give us Thy peace: peace in the Church and school,
Peace to the powers who o'er our country rule,
Peace to the conscience, peace within the heart
Do Thou impart.

4 So shall Thy goodness here be still adored,
Thou Guardian of Thy little flock, dear Lord;
And heaven and earth through all eternity
Shall worship Thee.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #279

Author: Matthäus Appeles von Löwenstern

Löwenstern, Matthäus Apelles von, was born April 20, 1594, at Neustadt, in the principality of Oppeln, Silesia, where his father was a saddler. He early distinguished himself by his musical abilities, was appointed in 1625, by Duke Heinrich Wenzel of Münsterberg, as his music director and treasurer at Bernstadt: in 1626, director of the princely school at Bernstadt; and in 1631 Rath and Secretary and also Director of finance. Thereafter he entered the service of the Emperors Ferdinand II. (d. 1637), and Ferdinand III. as Rath, and was ennobled by the latter. Fi¬nally he became Staatsrath at Oels to Duke Carl Friedrich of Münsterberg, and died at Breslau, April 11, 1648 (Koch, iii. 57-60 ; Allgemeine Deutsche Biog. xix. 318, &c). Lowen… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Christ, Thou the Champion of the band who own
Title: Christ Thou the champion of that war-worn host
German Title: Christe, du Beistand deiner Kreuzgemeine
Author: Matthäus Appeles von Löwenstern
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter: 10.10.10.4
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

HERZLIEBSTER JESU

Partially based on earlier melodies (including the Genevan tune for Psalm 23), HERZ LIEBSTER JESU was composed by Johann Crüger (PHH 42) and published in his Neues vollkömliches Gesangbuch (1640). Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used the tune in both his St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, and variou…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)
Text

Lyra Germanica #45

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Evangelical Lutheran hymnal #198

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Lyra Germanica #S1-45

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Christ in Song #341

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #279

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #141

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #279

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal #198

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. 9th ed. #a198

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Hymn Book #49

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Lyra Germanica #105

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #529

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The Liturgy and the Offices of Worship and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum, or the Moravian Church #529

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