I am always fascinated by the Venerable Bede. A part of that is simply that I don’t know that much about him, aside from the basics, being a student of music and theology, rather than history.
What a simple life this man led… prayer, reading Scripture, writing.
I’ve read that this hymn which he composed is set to the ancient tune of Agincourt, a staple of organists throughout the world, and which appears in serval hymnals in various forms.
While I don’t like this version as much, I do like the picture which goes with the video.
A Hymn for the Ascension
the Venerable Bede
A hymn of glory let us sing;
New songs throughout the world shall ring:
Christ, by a road before untrod,
Now rises to the throne of God.The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
And with his followers they see
Their Lord’s ascending majesty.To them the angels drawing nigh,
“Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
This is the Savior,” thus they say;
“This is his glorious triumph day.“Again shall ye behold him so
As ye today have seen him go,
In glorious pomp ascending high,Up to the portals of the sky.”
O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to thee let earth accord,
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit one.
And, because I love the tune… an interesting version set to a separate hymn.