The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns

Crowned With Glory Now

The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns was written is 1820 by Thomas Kelly (1769-1854). Born in Dublin, Ireland, Kelly took Holy Orders in the Church of England in 1792. He would eventually leave the Anglican Church, and set up a local independent congregation where he preached and lead worship services which included some of the 765 hymns he wrote during his life. The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns is set to the tune, Saint Magnus (Nottingham) written in 1707 by English baroque composer and organist, Jeremiah Clarke (c.1659-1707). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used on Ascension.



THE HEAD THAT ONCE WAS CROWNED WITH THORNS by Thomas Kelly, 1820 (Public Domain)

1. The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now:
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

2. The highest place that heav’n affords
Is surely his by right:
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And heav’n’s eternal light.

3. The joy he is of all above,
The joy to all below:
To ev’ryone he shows his love,
And grants his name to know.

4. To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is giv’n:
Their name an everlasting name.
Their joy the joy of heav’n.

5. The cross he bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to him;
His people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.


Sung by the Choir of the King's School

Creator of the Earth and Skies

Speak to Mankind Your Words of Life

Creator of the Earth and Skies, first published in 1964 as part of the Hymns for Church and School, was written by Donald W. Hughes (1911-1967). He was a Methodist Minister, educator, author, and poet. Creator of the Earth and Skies is set to the tune, Uffingham written by English baroque composer and organist, Jeremiah Clarke (1673-1707). It can also be sung to the tune, Winchester New, as featured in the following video. This hymn is used in the Liturgy of the Hours during Lent.


Tune: Winchester New

Lord of All Being, Throned Afar

Your Glory Flames from Sun and Star.

Lord of All Being, Throned Afar was written in 1848 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894). Son of a Congregational clergyman, Holmes was a well known and respected writer, lecturer, poet, physician, and academic of 19th century America. His son, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. sat on the Supreme Court of the United States. Lord of All Being, Throned Afar is set to the tune, Uffingham by British Hymnodist, Jeremiah Clarke (c.1659-1707). It can also be sung to the tune, Winchester New, as featured in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used during Ordinary Time for Daytime Midday Prayer.


Tune: Winchester New

LORD OF ALL BEING, THRONED AFAR by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., 1848 (Public Domain) 

Lord of all being, thronèd afar,
Thy glory flames from sun and star;
Center and soul of every sphere,
Yet to each loving heart how near!

Sun of our life, Thy quickening ray,
Sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, Thy softened light
Cheers the long watches of the night.

Our midnight is Thy smile withdrawn;
Our noontide is Thy gracious dawn;
Our rainbow arch, Thy mercy’s sign;
All, save the clouds of sin, are Thine.

Lord of all life, below, above,
Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love,
Before Thy ever blazing throne
We ask no luster of our own.

Grant us Thy truth to make us free,
And kindling hearts that burn for Thee,
Till all Thy living altars claim
One holy light, one heavenly flame.