Cecil Frances Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cecil Frances Alexander
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Undated photograph of Alexander
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| Born |
Cecil Frances Humphreys
April 1818 |
| Died | 12 October 1895 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Hymnwriter, poet |
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Notable work
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Hymns for Little Children |
Cecil Frances Alexander (born April 1818 – died 12 October 1895) was an amazing Irish writer. She wrote many famous hymns and poems. You might know some of her songs like "All Things Bright and Beautiful" or the Christmas carol "Once in Royal David's City." She also wrote "There is a green hill far away." Her beautiful words are still sung by people all over the world today.
Contents
The Life of Cecil Frances Alexander
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Cecil Frances Alexander was born in April 1818 in Dublin, Ireland. Her full name was Cecil Frances Humphreys. She was the third child in her family. From a young age, she loved writing poems and verses. Her writing was greatly influenced by her faith and by important religious leaders of her time.
Early Writings and Famous Hymns
Cecil's religious work was inspired by a group called the Oxford Movement. One of its leaders, John Keble, even helped her with one of her books. By the 1840s, she was already known for writing hymns. Her songs quickly appeared in church hymnbooks. She also wrote other types of poems for magazines, sometimes using different names.
In 1833, Cecil moved to Milltown House in Strabane. While living there, she published several Christian books. These included Verses for Holy Seasons (1846) and The Lord of the Forest and His Vassals (1847), which was a story for children. Her most famous book was Hymns for Little Children, published in 1848. This book became incredibly popular, reaching its 69th edition by the end of the 1800s.
Some of the hymns from this book are still sung today. These include "All Things Bright and Beautiful", "There is a green hill far away", and the well-loved Christmas carol "Once in Royal David's City." She also wrote a beautiful version of "Saint Patrick's Breastplate."
Marriage and Helping Others
In October 1850, Cecil married an Anglican clergyman named William Alexander. He later became a Bishop and then an Archbishop. Cecil was six years older than William, which caused some discussion in their family. Her daughter, Eleanor Jane Alexander, also became a poet.
Cecil Frances Alexander spent much of her life helping others. The money she earned from her first books helped build a school for deaf children in Strabane in 1846. She also gave the profits from Hymns for Little Children to this school. She worked with a home that helped women in need. She also helped start a service that sent nurses to visit people in their homes. She was known for visiting many poor and sick people.
A Hymn's Changing Words
One of her hymns, "All Things Bright and Beautiful," originally had a verse about social classes. It said:
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
This verse suggested that God decided everyone's place in society. Today, this verse is usually left out when the hymn is sung. It was removed from many hymnbooks in the early 1900s.
Many of Cecil's hymns continued to be popular. Several of her works were included in church hymnbooks throughout the 1800s and even into the 1900s. After she passed away, a collection of her poems was published in 1896 by her husband.
Legacy and Remembrance
Cecil Frances Alexander died on October 12, 1895, at the Bishop's Palace in Derry. She was buried in the Derry City Cemetery. Her husband was buried next to her. In 1995, a special blue plaque was placed in Derry to remember her.
After her husband, Archbishop Alexander, died in 1911, a beautiful stained glass window was put in St Columb's Cathedral in Derry in 1913. This window was paid for by public donations and honors Cecil Frances Alexander. The window shows scenes related to three of her famous hymns: "Once in Royal David's City," "There Is a Green Hill Far Away," and "The Golden Gates Are Lifted Up."
The house where the Alexanders lived in Strabane, Milltown House, later became Strabane Grammar School. A plaque there also remembers their time in the house. The school moved out of the building in 2020.
Cecil Frances Alexander's hymns and poems continue to inspire people. Her words have touched the hearts of many generations, making her an important figure in religious literature.
