Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

portrait — William H. Havergal
1793–1870

Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1740. James Montgomery called this one of Wesley’s finest compositions.

Music: Ratisbon Johann G. Werner’s Choralbuch zu den neuen protestantischen Gesangbüchern (Leipzig, Germany: 1815). Harmony by William H. Havergal, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Day-Star Samuel S. Wesley, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Fowey adapted by Samuel S. Wesley from either Johann Rosenmüller or Jacob Hintze, circa 1640 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Fred til Bod Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Leipzig (Schop) Johann Schop, 1642 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Lux Prima (Gounod) Charles F. Gounod, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Ministres de l’Éternel Genevan Psalter, 1562 (🔊 pdf nwc)

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics