Back To My Hymnal For The Holidays Quiz

Answer: Hark

Charles, the brother of John, who founded the Methodist Church, continuously had songs running through his mind and would occasionally stop his horse at houses along his journeys to ask to borrow "pen and ink". He wrote this one in 1739.

Answer: "The First Noel"

The origin is generally thought to be English dating back to the 16th century. Noel was spelled Nowell in the olde English Anglo-Saxon.

Answer: "O, Come All Ye Faithful"

Written by John Francis Wade circa 1743. My favorite version of this hymn was popularized by Bing Crosby and was sung partially in Latin.

Answer: "Angels, from the Realms of Glory"

James Montgomery's parents felt God's call to the mission field in
Barbados and tearfully bid him farewell as they left their 6-yr. old son in Scotland. He never saw his parents again since they perished in Barbados. He spent years trying to fill the void in his life and finally found his niche writing for newspapers and furthering the cause of foreign missions and the British Bible Society.

Answer: "Good King Wenceslas"

Wenceslas stepped into power at the age of 18 following the death of his father. He showed concern for the poor; cared for orphans and widows; advocated reform in the judicial system and sought good relations with neighboring countries. His reign ended suddenly when his rebellious, pagan brother, Boleslav, murdered him as he left for church. Today he is a patron saint of Czechoslovakia, his Saint's Day is September 28th. St. Stephen's feast day was celebrated on the 26th of December which is why this song is sung as a Christmas carol.

Answer: "It Came upon the Midnight Clear"

Edmund Sears was born on April 6, 1819 in Sandisfield, Mass.; wrote many popular hymns and songs; was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1871; preached to large crowds on tour in England and died in Weston, Mass. on January 16, 1876.

Answer: Bethlehem

Phillips Brooks was nearly 6'6" and weighed 300 lbs. He made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1865 and traveled by horseback to attend a 5-hr. service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. He was so deeply moved by the experience that it led him to compose the poem that became this beloved classic hymn.

Answer: "His Name Is Wonderful"

Audrey, a gifted pianist, worship leader, song director and choral clinician, was working in her brother-in-law's church that Christmas Sunday in 1959. The church was all decked out with pine boughs and nativity scene. In her own words, "I was almost overwhelmed with the fragrance, the sounds, and most of all, with the gentle moving of the Spirit in that church.

The pastor stood to his feet, opened the Bible, and said, 'His name shall be called Wonderful'. I tell you the truth, that's all it took." She wrote the words and music on the flyleaf of her Bible and later that evening taught it to a group of young people who sang it for the first time.

Answer: "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"

"God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay..." was published in 1833 in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys.

Answer: George Frideric Handel

On August 22, 1741, Handel closed himself into his home in London and began composing. Twenty-three days later "The Messiah" was completed.

Hallelujah! This quiz sure has made me start singing, I hope you are singing, too. Thanks for continuing to tour my hymnal with me.