Scripture Verse

All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Ezra 3:11

Introduction

portrait
Felice de Giardini (1716–1796)
National Portrait Gallerybutton

Words: Charles S. Mills (1861–1942).

Music: It­al­i­an Hymn Fe­li­ce de Gi­ar­di­ni, in The Col­lect­ion of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Sung at the Cha­pel of the Lock Hos­pi­tal, 1769 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know when this hymn was writ­ten, or where to get a good pho­to of Mills (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Lord, Thou hast known our joy,
Building for Thine employ
This house of prayer;
As we Thy help have sought,
With labor long have wrought,
Our willing offerings brought,
This work to share.

Now as we give it Thee
Thine ev­er­more to be,
Who givest all,
Come, Thou, O Lord divine,
Make this Thy holy shrine
Where Thy pure light may shine;
O hear our call!

May this new temple prove
True witness to Thy love,
To all men free;
May all who seek this door,
And saving grace implore,
Love one another more
As they seek Thee.

O Christ, the Church’s head,
Who for us all hast bled
That we might live,
Thy cross we lift on high
This house to glorify;
On Thee our hearts rely
Thy power to give.

Lord, though these hours of praise,
And all our earthly days
Will soon be o’er,
Still may these courts pro­claim
The glo­ry of Thy name,
O Thou, who art the same
Forevermore!