Hymn for Christmas - Thou Who Wast Rich

We sang this hymn at church yesterday and I was struck by the beautiful poetry concerning Christ's love for man in the incarnation (and also struck by thinking of the incarnation of Christ itself), and also struck that it was a Christmas hymn I had never heard of. My pastor elaborated on the hymn at the evening Carols service, and if you are interested in how this hymn was written in connection with Christian missions to China, click this link and read the story below the hymn. You can access the melody in this Youtube video. Beautiful melody, too.


Thou Who Wast Rich
Words: Frank Houghton (1894-1972)
Music: Trad. French Carol Melody, FRAGRANCE

Thou Who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou Who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor.

Thou Who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest Man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
heav'nwards by Thine eternal plan.
Thou Who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest Man.

Thou Who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Immanuel, within us dwelling,
make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou Who art love, beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.

Bram reading under the tree yesterday