A Retired Rector's Reflections

I enjoyed choosing hymns for worship when in parish ministry. I enjoyed introducing hymns not in the usual repertoire, including some older hymns well worth singing.

One hymn I introduced in the first parish I served as Rector, in County Durham, was There’s a light upon the mountains by Henry Burton (1840-1930), a Methodist minister. Sadly, the hymn is rarely found in Anglican hymnals.

Burton’s words are mystical in tone, with Biblical themes woven together. There is mystery and wonder about them. It’s a lovely hymn with which to begin Advent.

In the hymn Burton invites us to note a ‘light on the mountains,’ ‘distant music,’ ‘a hush of expectation.’ Something is happening in our ‘weary’ world, the day is at the spring. We are called to ‘go forth,’ ‘be swift.’ Barriers are being broken down; ‘he is calling for his angels’ to do his work.

Then comes the challenge, for the breath of God, we are told, is moving in the fervour of our prayers and ‘his angels here are human, not the shining hosts above; for the drum beats of his army are the heart beats of our love.’

1. There’s a light upon the mountains, and the day is at the spring,
When our eyes shall see the beauty and the glory of the King:
Weary was our heart with waiting, and the night watch seemed so long,
But His triumph day is breaking and we hail it with a song.

2. There’s a hush of expectation and a quiet in the air
And the breath of God is moving in the fervent breath of prayer;
For the suffering, dying Jesus is the Christ upon the throne,
And the travail of our spirit is the travail of His own.

3. He is breaking down the barriers, he is casting up the way;
He is calling for His angels to build up the gates of day:
But His angels here are human, not the shining hosts above;
For the drum beats of His army are the heartbeats of our love.

4. Hark! we hear a distant music and it comes with fuller swell;
’Tis the triumph song of Jesus, of our King, Emmanuel!
Go ye forth with joy to meet Him; and, my soul, be swift to bring
All thy sweetest and thy dearest for the triumph of our King!

The tune, MT. HOLYOKE (also simply called THERE’S A LIGHT UPON THE MOUNTAINS) is by Maurice Wostenholm, and was written for the hymn. It fits it well. The final line in particular leads us to an outstanding climax.

Perhaps you won’t hear this sung in church, but here is a recording of it to enjoy.