Hail to the Lord who comes (Old 120th)

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple falls on 2 February and celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante.

In the Church of England, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a Principal Feast celebrated either on 2 February or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February.

In the churches of the Anglican Community, it is known by various names, including: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in The Temple (Candlemas), The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) (Church of England).

The melody is from Damon's Psalter 1579.
In 1591 Thomas East printed a new edition of the psalter of William Damon, the first issue of which had been published by John Day in 1579.

This psalter has a special interest for musicians, in that its two parts present respectively the ancient and the modern methods of harmonising tunes for congregational use; the first section of the book gives the tune to the tenor, the second, according to modern usage, to the treble voice.

The tunes were harmonised by ten eminent composers.

It is not known which of the ten wrote and harmonized this tune.

Text J. Ellerton (1826-1893)
Ellerton, John, M.A., sowas born in London, Dec. 16, 1826, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Taking Holy Orders he was successively Curate of Easebourne, Sussex, 1850; Brighton, and Lecturer of St. Peter's, Brighton, 1852; Vicar of Crewe Green, and Chaplain to Lord Crewe, 1860; Rector of Hinstock, 1872; of Barnes, 1876; and of White Roding, 1886.

Mr. Ellerton is mostly known as a hymnologist, editor, hymnwriter, and translator.