James Montgomery (1771-1854) is often considered to be
of the same ilk as hymn-writers, Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley, which is a
huge compliment in my books. Many of our hymnals will contain a number of
Montgomery’s songs, with Angels from the
realms of glory sure to be in most of these.
British hymnologist J.R. Watson states, “James Montgomery was a well-known
poet, highly thought of by his contemporaries such as Shelley and Byron.”
Montgomery’s father was a minister, and his parents served as missionaries to
the West Indies at one point in their ministry. He remained in Yorkshire, and
from age 6 was raised in a boy’s boarding school. James later said, “There, whatever
we did was done in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, whom we were
taught to regard in the amiable and endearing light of a friend and brother.”
It is believed that Montgomery began writing poetry from a young age (around 10).
He was not so great with the rest of his academic schooling and dropped out of
school at 14. He later found a job in 1792, working at the radical weekly
newspaper, the Sheffield Register,
which later became the Sheffield Iris.
James served as the editor of this publication for 31 years.
“Angels from the realms of glory” was first published on Christmas Eve 1816 and
is enjoyed for its sense of anticipation and excitement of the birth of Jesus (www.umcdiscipleship.org).
I am including the words of the hymn that mean the
most to me at this point in my own Spiritual journey. Verse 3 speaks loudly to
me today. May we echo the words of the Angels...
Angels
from the realms of glory
Wing your flight through all the earth
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Gloria
In excelsis deo
Gloria
In excelsis deo
Verse 3
Sages, leave your contemplation
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great desire of nations
Ye have seen His natal star
Living in Grace
D3LM3
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