A Christmas message from the interim Dean of Chelmsford, the Very Revd Paul Kennington.
"Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed.
So many of our beautiful carol services begin with those words sung as an evocative solo. They were written by Frances Alexander in the 19th Century as part of a whole series of hymns which explain to children the Christian Faith from Christmas to Easter and beyond. Along with All things bright and beautiful – reminding us that we believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, made everything there is and There is a green hill far away – reminding us that Jesus was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate on that first Good Friday.
But what was taught in a Sunday School in 19th Century Northern Ireland doesn’t always work well in 21st Century England. It was a long time ago we removed from our hymn books Frances Alexander’s original third verse of All things bright and beautiful which goes like this:
The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly, and ordered their estate.
We just can’t sing that anymore. But you might not have noticed that our hymn books have removed some of the original lines of Once in Royal David’s City as well. We no longer sing Christian children all must be, mild, obedient, pure as he. The old adage that children should be seen but not heard, doesn’t really fit in well with our modern understanding of children’s development and how to encourage them in life as they grow up. When I spend precious time with my own grandchildren I’m especially delighted when they are inquisitive, enthusiastic, daring and when they ask me lots and lots of questions and share their thoughts with me.
But perhaps Frances Alexander’s Christmas Carol was not really meant for the children at all: For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above.
Mary Alexander’s Christmas Carol takes us on a journey. Once in a town called Bethlehem around the year 4 BC a child was born to a young woman called Mary – of that there historically very little doubt. But who that child was and who that child is, remains the Christmas question for each and every one of us, as it was in first Century Palestine or in 19th Century Ireland. It was hard to grasp it then. It is still hard to grasp it now.
And if we decide that it is true that one day our eyes shall see him, set at God’s right hand on high – that this Christmas Carol is worth singing and is not merely cultural wishful thinking - then that will change how we understand our own life and death, our place in this world, our dealings with one another, and the life and death of the ones we love.
If like stars his children crowned, all in white shall wait around – then those who have gone before us, who we miss, they are already waiting for us now. Perhaps this Christmas carol is for us, the adults who need to hear it and become not exactly mild, obedient and pure – but gentle, trustworthy and honest with one another for Christmas sake.
So on behalf of us all here at Chelmsford Cathedral I really do want to wish you and all those you love and will be celebrating with a very happy Christmas."