There is a green hill far away

Today is Good Friday, and this is my 42nd entry in the Lenten Hymn-of-the-Day project.

This hymn must surely be THE most beloved of all the Passiontide hymns.

The words by Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), who wrote such classics as "Once in royal David's city", and the music, "Horsley" is by William Horsley (1774-1858), whose compositions are numerous, and include amongst other instrumental pieces three symphonies for full orchestra. More important are his glees, of which he published five books (1801–1807) besides contributing many detached glees and part songs to various collections. In 1790 he became the pupil of Theodore Smith, an indifferent musician of the time, who, however, taught him sufficiently well to obtain the position of organist at Ely Chapel, Holborn, in 1794. He resigned this post in 1798 to become the organist at the Asylum for Female Orphans as well as the assistant to John Wall Callcott. He became his friend's successor upon the latter's resignation. Besides holding this appointment he became the organist of Belgrave Chapel, Halkin Street, in 1812 and of the Charter House in 1838.

ONE FULL VERSE for the INTRODUCTION.

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified
Who died to save us all.

We many not know, we can not tell
What pains he had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven,
He died to make us good;
That we might go at last to heaven,
Saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us in.

O, dearly, dearly has he loved,
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.