Once, only once, and once for all

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Once, only once, and once for all

Author: William Bright
Tune: ALBANO (Novello)
Communion Songs
Published in 33 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	The Eucharist (Practical Organ Music for…

Representative Text

1 Once, only once, and once for all,
his precious life he gave;
before the cross our spirits fall,
and own it strong to save.

2 'One off'ring, single and complete,'
with lips and hearts we say;
but what he never can repeat
he shows forth day by day.

3 For, as the priest of Aaron’s line
within the holiest stood,
and sprinkled all the mercy-shrine
with sacrificial blood;

4 so he who once atonement wrought,
our Priest of endless power,
presents himself for those he bought
in that dark noontide hour.

5 His manhood pleads where now it lives
on heaven's eternal throne,
and where in mystic rite he gives
its presence to his own.

6 And so we show thy death, O Lord,
till thou again appear;
and feel, when we approach thy board,
we have an altar here.

*7 All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #617

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Author: William Bright

Bright, William, D.D., born at Doncaster, Dec. 14, 1824, and educated at University College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. (first class in Lit. Hum.) in 1846, M.A. in 1849. In 1847 he was Johnson's Theological Scholar: and in 1848 he also obtained the Ellerton Theological Essay prize. He was elected Fellow in 1847, and subsequently became Tutor of his College. Taking Holy Orders in 1848, he was for some time Tutor at Trinity College, Glenalmond; but in 1859 he returned to Oxford, and in 1868 became Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Canon of Christ Church. His publications include:— (1) Ancient Collects, selected from various Rituals, 1857, 2nd ed., 1862; (2) History of the Church from the Edict of Milan to the Council of… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Once, only once, and once for all
Author:	William Bright
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain
Liturgical Use:	Communion Songs

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Notes

Once, only once, and once for all. Holy Communion. Written in 1865, and published in his Hymns, &c, 1866, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. It was given in the Appendix to Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868; the new edition, 1875, and several other collections.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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