Saints Gone Before

In the spirit of Christmas, we're reading lesser-known Christmas carols here on Saints Gone Before. Here are their names and other data, in the order they were read. “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing,” from Henry Bramley and John Stainer’s Christmas Carols New and Old (1878), using c. 1870 lyrics. “Come All You Worthy Gentlemen,” aka the Somerset Carol. First collected by Cecil Sharp in Folk Songs from Somerset (second edition, 1909) from a Mr. Rapsey at the turn of the 20th century. “In the Bleak Midwinter,” based on an 1870s poem by Christina Rosetti. “The Truth Sent From Above,” or “The Shropshire Carol,” also collected by Cecil Sharp, comes from Mr. Seth Vandrell and Mr. Samuel Bradley of Donninglon Wood of Shropshire, England, at the turn of the 20th century. Come back for part 2, next Monday! Do you have questions, or any suggestions for us to read? E-mail us at churchhistorypodcast@gmail.com, or tweet us @OralHistoryPod. Merry Christmas!