![]() ![]() The original fourth stanza (“What the saints established”) is always omitted. ![]() ![]() The original third (“Like a mighty army”) and fifth (“Crowns and thrones may perish”) stanzas are usually included, but the original second stanza (“At the sign of triumph”) is often omitted. The first (“Onward, Christian soldiers”) and last (“Onward, then, ye people”) are always included. This hymn is most commonly published with four stanzas and the refrain. It was published later that year in Church Times under the title “'Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners.” There is a story that low-church Anglican clergy who preferred not to carry the cross in their processions were derided when the end of the refrain was altered to “With the cross of Jesus left behind the door.” Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the text in 1865 for a children’s procession for Whitsuntide (Pentecost) in the village of Horbury Bridge, England. Services dealing with spiritual warfare, with greatest emphasis on stanzas 3 and 4. Baring-Gould compiled several collections of folk songs, which were an important part of the English folk-music movement, including Songs and Ballads of the West (1889-1891) and A Garland of Country Song (1894). Many of his hymns were written for the children of his congregations, often for their marches around the village in procession with crosses and banners. He inherited a large estate but married a mill-hand girl after paying for her education. Educated at Clare College, Cambridge, England, he was a curate and rector in the Church of England. All agree, however, that stanza 3, which quotes Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:18, is the hymn's finest verse.īaring-Gould is remembered today especially for this hymn, though he was also the author of some eighty volumes, including books about travel, popular theology, and English folk songs. Thus various opinions exist about the modem usefulness of this text. Its martial imagery, though drawn from biblical texts such as Ephesians 6:10-18, has often been misinterpreted as militaristic. And "Onward, Christian Soldiers" is clearly a nineteenth-century text that reveals some of the British triumphalism of that era. It is also a children's hymn the line in stanza 2 “We are not divided all one body we” initially referred simply to the children from the several villages (the hymn obviously does not provide a realistic analysis of church unity on a larger scale). His stanzas 1, 3, 5-6 are included with small alterations.Īs indicated in the refrain, "Onward, Christian Soldiers" is a processional hymn with a cross as the head of the procession (see also 373). I am certain that nothing surprised me more than its popularity.Įntitled "Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners," the text was published in The Church Times (Oct. "Onward, Christian Soldiers" was the result. I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to another, but couldn't think of anything quite suitable, so I sat up at night and resolved to write something myself. Baring-Gould said the following about his writing of the text:įor a Whitsuntide procession it was arranged that our school should join forces with that of a neighboring village. Lew Trenchard, England, 1924), curate of a mission church at Horbury Bridge, Yorkshire, England, wrote this text in 1864 for a children's Pentecost Sunday procession. Note: When you embed the widget in your site, it will match your site's styles (CSS).Sabine Baring-Gould (b. Sankey - Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism and the Phonograph, 1890-1900 Album Lyrics1.Nearer, My God, To Thee2.Onward, Christian SoldiersIra D. In the triumph song: "Glory, praise and honour, Unto Christ the King", - This, through countless ages, Men and angels sing. Perish Kingdoms rise and wane But the Church of JesusĬonstant will remain: Gates of hell can never 'Gainst that church prevail We have Christ's own promise And that cannot fail. We are not divided, All one body we One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Moves the Church of God: Brothers, we are treading Satan's host doth Ilee On then, Christian soldiers On to victory! Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise: Brothers, lift your voices, 1.Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,
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