Page 9 - The Wondrous Cross - CD Booklet

4. There is a green hill far away
We come to our Easter selection and start with a hymn by Cecil Francis Alexander
(1818–1895). She was an Anglo-Irish hymn writer and Poet. You may well know
some of her other famous hymns like ‘All things bright and beautiful’ and ‘Once
in Royal David’s City’. She had a gift of writing simple but profound verse that
was written for children but has an effect on us all. The publication of her ‘Hymns
for little children’ includes the above three hymns. In this hymn, we are reminded
of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. That love should spur us to love him too and to
follow him.

It is most often sung to the tune ‘Horsley’. In my tune, I retain much of the feel
and meter of the original hymn. This enables me to bring in subtle references
to that tune. The middle harmony verse rises up to the high-point of the hymn
where the redemptive work of Christ has enabled us to enter through heaven’s
gate.
There is a green hill far away, There was no other good enough,
outside a city wall, to pay the price of sin;
where our dear Lord was crucified, he, only, could unlock the gate
who died to save us all. of heaven and let us in.

We may not know, we cannot tell Lord Jesus, dearly you have loved,
what pains he had to bear; and we must love you too;
but we believe it was for us and trust in your redeeming blood,
he hung and suffered there. and live our lives for you.

He died that we might be forgiven, Words: Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895),
he died to make us good, Music: © Peter Burton 2018.
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.