O Come, All Ye Faithful

Representative Text

1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!

Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

2 God of God, Light of Light,
lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;
very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]

3 Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest![Refrain]

4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #253

Author (attributed to): John Francis Wade

John Francis Wade (b. England, c. 1711; d. Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of the hymn "Adeste fideles," originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743. By the early nineteenth century, however, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers. A Roman Catholic, Wade apparently moved to France because of discrimination against Roman Catholics in eighteenth-century England—especially so after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. He taught music at an English college in Douay and hand copied and sold chant music for use in the chapels of wealthy families. Wade's copied manuscripts were published as Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis et Festis p… Go to person page >

Translator: Frederick Oakeley

Frederic Oakeley graduated M.A. at Oxford, and took Orders in the Church of England. He became Prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral, preacher at Whitehall, and incumbent of Margaret Chapel, London. He was active in the "Oxford Movement," and in 1845, called attention to his views for the purpose of seeing if he could continue to hold an Oxford degree, with so great a change in his opinions. The question was tried, and he was perpetually suspended unless he retracted. He then resigned his positions in the Church of England, and entered the Church of Rome, in which he became a Priest, and Canon of the diocese of Westminster. His publications are numerous, and some of them have considerable value. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchi… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
Title: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Latin Title: Adeste Fideles
Author (attributed to): John Francis Wade
Translator: Frederick Oakeley (1841; alt)
Meter: Irregular with refrain
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O come, let us adore Him
Copyright: Public Domain

Chinese

English

English, Latin

French

French Creole

Latin

Latin, English

Spanish

Welsh

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Luke 2:4-7
st. 3 = Luke 2:13-14
st. 4 = John 1:14

In this well-known and loved Christmas hymn, we are invited as God's faithful people to go to Bethlehem and adore Christ the Lord (st. 1). We sing words borrowed from the Nicene Creed to express the Christian faith about the incarnation (st. 2). Then after exhorting the angels to sing their praise (st. 3), we greet Christ on his birthday (st. 4). The text has two unusual features for such a popular hymn: it is unrhymed and has an irregular meter.

John Francis Wade (b. England, c. 1711; d. Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of this hymn, originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743. By the early nineteenth century, however, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers, A Roman Catholic, Wade apparently moved to France because of discrimination against Roman Catholics in eighteenth-century England–especially so after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. He taught music at an English college in Douay and hand copied and sold chant music for use in the chapels of wealthy families. Wade's copied manuscripts were published as Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis et Festis per annum (1751).

The translation in the Psalter Hymnal is based primarily on the work of Frederick Oakeley (b. Shrewsbury, Worcester, England, 1802; d. Islington, London, England, 1880), who translated the text for use at the Margaret Street Chapel (now All Saints', Margaret Street) in London (1841). It is also based on translations found in both F. H. Murray's A Hymnal for Use in the English Church (1852) and William Mercer's (PHH 35) Church Psalter and Hymn Book (1854).

Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, England, Oakeley was ordained in the Church of England in 1826. He served at Balliol College, Lichfield Cathedral, Whitehall, and Margaret Street Chapel in London. Influenced by the Oxford Movement, Oakeley and Richard Redhead (PHH 255), organist of Margaret Chapel, instituted "high" liturgies there, eliciting the charge of "Romanism." Oakeley also asserted in a pamphlet that; even though he would not "teach," he certainly should be allowed to "hold" all Roman Catholic doctrines. These views caused him to be suspended from his office. Rather than retract his statement, he joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1845 and associated himself with John Henry Newman. Following his reordination in the Roman Catholic Church, Oakeley worked among the poor in the Westminster area of London. In his writings he defended the Roman theology and practices of worship. He also wrote four volumes of verse as well as Historical Notes on the Tractarian Movement (1865).

Liturgical Use:
Christmas Day; a "must" hymn for a Christmas festival of lessons and carols (especially in more elaborate performances involving choir and instruments).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook
==========================================

Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes. [Christmas.] As to the authorship and actual date of this hymn nothing positive is known. It has been ascribed to St. Bonaventura, but is found in no edition of his Works. Most probably it is a hymn of the 17th or 18th century, and of French or German authorship. The text appears in three forms. The first is in 8 stanzas, the second, that in use in France, and the third the English use, both in Latin and English. The full text [is] from Thesaurus Animae Christianae, Mechlin, N.D. (where it is given as a second sequence for Christmas and said to be "Ex Graduali Cisterciensi"….

In the English and French centos there are various readings; but we need only note three-—st. v., 1. 1, Patris for “Parentis"; st. vii., 1. 1, Io for "hymnos "; and rarely, exultant, for "nunc hymnos"; st. viii., 1. 2, hodierno, for "hodiernâ:" and of these the second is probably the original text. The English cento is composed of st. i., ii., vii. and viii., and the French, generally of st. i., iii., v., vi., and, very rarely, st. iv. also. Towards the close of the last century it was sung both in England and in France at Benediction during Christmastide. As early as 1797 the hymn was sung at the Chapel of the Portuguese Embassy, of which Vincent Novello was organist, and the tune…at once became popular.
In the Paroissien Complet, Paris, of which the "Approbation" is dated July, 28th, 1827, the hymn is given in both the English and French forms. At p. 583 it occurs as, "Hymne Qui se chante, dans plusieurs eglises de Paris pendant le temps de la Nativite;" this is the English form, with various readings, consisting of st. i., ii., vii., viii.; then follows, "Hymne pour le temps de Noel," the ordinary French version st. i., iii., v. and vi., and both also occur in A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, Anthems, &c, Washington, 1830. [William T. Brooke]

Translations in common use:—
1. Come, faithful all, rejoice and sing. Anonymous in 4 stanzas of 5 lines.
2. Ye faithful, approach ye. By F. Oakeley. This is a translation of the English form of the Latin text. It was written in 1841 for the use of the congregation of Margaret Street Chapel, London, of which he was then the Incumbent. It was never published by the translator, but came into notice by being sung in his chapel.
3. 0 come all ye faithful, joyfully triumphant. This form of Canon Oakeley's translation is the most popular arrangement of the Adeste fideles we possess. It first appeared in Murray's Hymnal, 1852, and has passed from thence into a great number of collections both in Great Britain and other English-speaking countries.
4. Be present, ye faithful. In Chope's Hymnal, 1854, and later editions, is Canon Oakeley's tr. rewritten.
5. Approach, all ye faithful.
6. 0 come, all ye faithful, triumphantly sing. By E. Caswall, first published in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 250, and in his Hys. and Poems, 1873, p. 146.
7. Come hither, ye faithful.
8. 0 come, all ye faithful. By W. Mercer. This translation can be distinguished from others beginning with the same first line by the st. iii., which reads, "Raise, raise, choir of angels," &c.
9. Be present, ye faithful. By J. M. Neale. Published in the Hymnal N., enlarged ed., 1858. Although opening with the same line it is a different translation from that in Chope's Hymnal, noted above. The second stanza of Chope reads: "Very God of Very God," and this "God of God, eternal."
10. 0 come, all ye faithfulDraw nigh, all ye faithful
12. 0 come, all ye faithful. By J. Ellerton, written for, and first pub. in Church Hymns, 1871. It may be known by st. iv., which opens with "Thou, who didst deign to be born for us this morning."
13. Draw near, all ye faithful. By R. C. Singleton, in the revised ed. of his Anglican Hymn Book. 1871.
14. Assemble, ye faithful. By T. Darling, in his Hys. for the Church of England, 1861.
15. 0 come, all ye faithful. This arrangement in the Westminster Abbey Hymn Book, 1884, is a cento compiled from the above trs.
16. Hither, ye faithful, haste with songs of triumph. In the American Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns Philadelphia, 1843, No. 174.

Translations not in common use:—
1. Draw near, ye faithful Christians. Evening Office of the Church, 1760.
2. Ye faithful, come triumphant, come. Orthodox Churchman's Magazine and Review, Nov., 1805.
3. Raise we our voices to the Lord of Glory. Ashbourne Collection, Uttoxeter, 1808.
4. Believers assemble, come with songs to Bethlem. Dr. Sutton's Psalms & Hymns, Sheffield, 1807.
5. Ye faithful, triumphant enter into Bethlehem. Psalms & Hymns. Burnley, 1820.
6. O come, all ye faithful, joyful triumph raising. Basil Woodd. Psalms & Hymns, 1821.
7. With hearts truly grateful. Psalms & Hymns. Washington, 1830.
8. O come, ye faithful, and your homage bring. J. Chandler, 1837.
9. O come, all ye faithful, raise the hymn of glory. F. C. Husenbeth's Missal for Use of the Laity (3rd ed.), 1840.
10. Ye faithful souls, approach and sing. J. Meade. Selwood Wreath, 1841.
11. Approach, ye faithful, come with exultation. Jane E. Leeson. Christian Child's Book, 1848.
12. Approach, ye faithful, and with glad accord. Jane E. Leeson. Christian Child's Book, 184«.
13. O hasten, ye faithful. J. R. Beste Church Hymns,
1849.
14. O come, all ye faithful. G. Rorison. Hymns & Anthems, 1851.
15. 0 come, all ye faithful. R. Campbell. St. Andrew's Hymnal, 1850.
16. Ye faithful, approach ye. W. J. Blew. Church Hymn Tune Book, 1852.
17. 0 Christian people, come. I. Gregory Smith. Hymn Book for the Service of the Church, 1855.
18. Exulting triumphant, come from every nation. Anon. Guernsey, Reprinted in Notes and Queries, 5th Ser. xi. p. 418.
19. 0 hie, ye believers, raise the song of triumph. F. Trappes, 1865.
20. Come, all ye faithful, joyfully. Anon, in J. F. Thrupp's Psalms & Hymns, 1853.
21. In triumph, joy, and holy fear. J. C. Earle. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.
22. Come, 0 faithful, with sweet voice. C. Kent. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #89
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
The Cyber Hymnal #4733
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Training hymnal for IWH215 #3
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #340
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
The United Methodist Hymnal #234
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
Worship and Rejoice #182
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #72
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 124)

A Teaching Hymnal #14

TextPage Scan

African American Heritage Hymnal #199

TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #106

Ambassador Hymnal #19

An Nou Chanté! #12

Text

Ancient and Modern #78

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #534

TextAudioPage Scan

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #89

Text

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #199

TextPage Scan

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #97

Text

Catholic Book of Worship III #329A

TextPage Scan

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #103

Chalice Carols #3

Text

Chalice Hymnal #148

Page Scan

Christian Science Hymnal #538

Text

Christian Worship (1993) #55

Text

Christian Worship #354

Christmas Favorites #7

Church Family Worship #672

Church Gospel Songs and Hymns #650

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #172

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #93

TextPage Scan

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #306

Text

Common Praise (1998) #118

TextPage Scan

Common Praise #61

TextPage Scan

Common Praise #62

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #479

Complete Mission Praise #491

TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #77

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #133

TextAudioPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #283

Page Scan

Gather (3rd ed.) #439

TextPage Scan

Gather Comprehensive #341

Page Scan

Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #357

Page Scan

Glory and Praise (3rd. ed.) #235

Text InfoTextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Glory to God #133

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #210

Hymnal #212

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #34

Hymns and Psalms #110

TextPage Scan

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #100

TextPage Scan

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #65

TextPage Scan

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #597

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Faith #130

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #306

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Promise #152

Hymns of the Christian Life #68

TextPage Scan

Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints #202

Hymns of the Saints #238

Hymns Old and New #357

TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #131

Page Scan

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #333

Text

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #300

TextPage Scan

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #262

TextFlexScoreAudio

Lift Up Your Hearts #76

Living Hymns #105

TextPage Scan

Lutheran Service Book #379

TextPage Scan

Lutheran Worship #41

TextPage Scan

Moravian Book of Worship #283

Text

One in Faith #371

TextPage Scan

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #265

Page Scan

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #380

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #464

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #178

TextPage Scan

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #253

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #340

Rejoice Hymns #189

TextPage Scan

Rejoice in the Lord #195

TextPage Scan

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #521

Text

RitualSong #499

TextFlexScorePage Scan

Santo, Santo, Santo #96

TextPage Scan

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #132

Page Scan

Sing 'N' Praise Hymnal Vol. 2 #99

Sing Glory #357

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #188

Text

Sing With Me #102

TextPage Scan

Singing Our Faith #113

Singing the Faith #212

Audio

Small Church Music #226

Page Scan

Soul-stirring Songs and Hymns (Rev. ed.) #424

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #95

TextPage Scan

The Book of Praise #159

Text

The Celebration Hymnal #249

The Christian Life Hymnal #90

The Covenant Hymnal #147

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4733

The Family Hymnal #33

TextFlexScoreAudio

The Hymnal 1982 #83

TextPage Scan

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #145

TextPage Scan

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #328

The Liturgical Harp #26

Text

The New Century Hymnal #135

TextPage Scan

The New English Hymnal #30

TextPage Scan

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #93

TextPage Scan

The Presbyterian Hymnal #41

Text

The Presbyterian Hymnal #42

Text

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #85

TextFlexScoreAudio

The United Methodist Hymnal #234

Text

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #7

Text

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement #8

Pages

Include 590 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us