Who wrote the hymn 'Onward Christian Soldiers' and who composed the music?
Inspired by the sight of children walking to church in his home town of Horbury and Christians being referred to as 'soldiers for Christ' in the New Testament priest Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the lyrics to the hymn in 1865. He originally set the lyrics to a melody from the slow movement of Joseph Haydn’s Symphony in D, No. 15, however the hymn didn't become popular until .Arthur Sullivan set it to music six years later in 1871.
'Onward Christian Soldiers' is The Salvation Army favoured processional hymn
Did you know...
... Winston Churchill chose the hymn for a wartime church service with Franklin Roosevelt when they were aboard the battleship HMS Prince of Wales discussing the Atlantic Charter?
On a radio programme after the service he said:
'We sang "Onward, Christian Soldiers" indeed, and I felt that this was no vain presumption, but that we had the right to feel that we were serving a cause for the sake of which a trumpet has sounded from on high. When I looked upon that densely packed congregation of fighting men of the same language, of the same faith, of the same fundamental laws, of the same ideals ... it swept across me that here was the only hope, but also the sure hope, of saving the world from measureless degradation.'
What are the lyrics to 'Onward Christian Soldiers'?
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before! Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle, see his banner go!
Chorus Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before!
At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise! [chorus]
Like a mighty army moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; We are not divided; all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. [chorus]
4 Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song; Glory, laud, and honour, unto Christ the King; This thro' countless ages men and angels sing. [chorus]
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