When Christ Our Lord to Andrew Cried

Oh Nobel Cross! O Precious Wood!

When Christ Our Lord to Andrew Cried was written by E.M. Barrett in honour of St. Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland. St. Andrew's Day is celebrated on November 30. The recommended setting in the Divine Office is the tune: St. An­drew (Tan­s’ur), composed in 1735 by Will­iam Tan­s’ur (1700-1783). An alternative tune that can also be used is St. Anne, as featured in the following video.
Tune: St Anne

WHEN CHRIST OUR LORD TO ANDREW CRIED by E.M. Barrett (Public Domain)

1. When Christ our Lord to Andrew cried: “Come, thou, and follow me,”
The fisher left his net beside the sea of Galilee.
To teach the truth his Master taught, to tread the path he trod
Was all his will and thus he brought unnumbered souls to God.

2. When Andrew’s hour had come and he was doomed, like Christ, to die,
He kissed his cross exultingly, and this his noble cry:
“O Noble Cross, O Precious Wood, I long have yearned for thee;
Uplift me to my only good who died on thee for me.”

3. The faith that Andrew taught once shone o’er all this kingdom fair;
The cross that Jesus died upon was honoured everywhere.
But times once changed and Andrew’s name was for a while forgot;
The cross, though set in kingly crown, became a sign of shame.

4. St Andrew now in bliss above thy fervent prayers renew
That Scotland yet again may love the faith entire and true;
That I the cross allotted me may bear with patient love!
‘Twill lift me as it lifted thee to reign with Christ above.