What Wondrous Love is This

*****Download this month’s FREE printable******

***** Download the hymn schedule for the 2023-2024 School Year******

***** The School Year Hymn Guide is available on Etsy!*****

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

Anonymous, 1840

THE HYMN AND ITS WRITER

William Walker was born in Martin Mills, South Carolina in 1807. William loved music. He loved to sing, he loved to dance and he especially loved to make up his own music. He started composing songs and leading his church in singing praises to God when he was 18 years old. William loved singing so very much that people started calling him “Singin’ Billy.” William wasn’t just a fan of writing his own songs, he also loved to collect songs in much the same way that people will often collect baseball cards, art, tea cups or pretty rocks. While wandering through the beautiful southern Appalachian Mountains, William heard many songs that he wanted to add to his collection. Sometimes when we hear music that we like, we get a copy of the sheet music or a recording to listen to later. But there was no sheet music for William to use to remember the songs he heard. And there certainly weren’t any recordings to listen to. The music was passed down orally and rarely ever written down. A child would sing a folk song she heard from her mother, who heard it from her grandmother, who heard it from her great grandmother and on and on for generations past. They sang these songs together around fires, while scrubbing laundry, while harvesting crops in the fields, through hard times and through happy times. They never, ever forgot the songs handed down to them. When William heard a new folk song that he liked, he had to listen hard and memorize the tune and the lyrics. Often there would be quite a bit of repetition in these songs to make them even easier to remember. William wanted to collect all of these wonderful songs so that people would be able to enjoy them in the generations to come. The heritage and history of these songs were too wonderful to be forgotten.

Coloring sheet, discussion questions, map study, etc all available in the “It is Well Hymn Guide” via Etsy.

William wrote down the music of the songs he collected using “shape notes.” Instead of the staff and notes we find with traditional musical notation, the shapes of the notes (various squares, triangles, circles, etc.) would indicate which pitch should be sung, making it easier for less educated or illiterate people to follow the music more easily. Walker published many of the songs he collected over the years in his book, “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” in 1835, which is where we find the beautiful hymn, “What Wondrous Love is This.” Just like so many American folk songs passed down from one generation to the next, the author of this beautiful song is unknown. Also with an unknown composer, the tune was borrowed from another old folk song that was sung often in the Appalachian south.

Hymns throughout history have borrowed tunes from folk songs sung in pubs, on ships, and just about anywhere because these were the tunes that people enjoyed and remembered. The particular meter for this tune is attributed to the 1701 English song, “The Ballad of Captain Kidd” which is about a pirate named William Kidd (misnamed “Robert” in American versions of the ballad): 

My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed, when I sailed;

My name was Robert Kidd, when I sailed;

My name was Robert Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid,

So wickedly I did when I sailed, when I sailed

So wickedly I did when I sailed.

Anonymous, 1701

Some think the meter/tune was borrowed for Captain Kidd from another song. 100 years or more earlier! (Cobb)

Interestingly, even though we don’t know who wrote the lyrics or the tune for this hymn, there is a hidden depth of history and heritage that make this hymn so special! And we can thank God for people like William Walker who collected these invaluable songs so we can continue to sing them today. How wonderful it will be when we get to sing these words face to face with our Savior on the New Earth while millions join the theme, throughout eternity.

---

IDEAS FOR DOING HYMN OF THE MONTH

We are delighted that you are here, friend. If you are new to this community, welcome! It is a great time to join in and make family worship a priority if you haven’t already. You may or may not be familiar with this hymn. Either way, we invite you to spend this month meditating on its truths. You may find yourself too busy during this season to get to all of the verses, and that’s okay! Here are a few ideas for implementing the hymn of the month together:

1. Print out your FREE printables for this hymn. Take a moment just to read through the verses together, as you would a poem. You can also use the copywork printables for your children to practice writing the words. 
2. Let your crew ask questions about vocabulary and the meaning behind the author’s poetry, and ask if there are any words or phrases that stick out to anyone. 
3. Read about the author together (above). There is such beauty in understanding the life and thoughts of the hymn writer! When my family sings hymns together, we often reflect on the author and his or her sufferings or blessings. For every hymn, it’s like we make a new friend.
4. Listen to the hymn. Play it when you are driving together, or at home while washing dishes. Try out lots of different versions from our playlist below. Let your children hear YOU singing it. There is such wonderful comfort that comes from your children hearing you sing. Even if you feel like you haven’t a musical bone in your body, it doesn’t matter… Sing! 
5. Most importantly, spend time reading Scripture, praying and singing along with your children. It may feel awkward at first but go ahead and give it a try. Your kiddos may not join you in singing right away, and that’s ok. It may take a few days or even a few weeks, but at some point, you are most likely going to hear your children humming the tune or singing the lyrics while playing or while you lead them. Don’t forget to connect with your children by looking at them in the eyes while you sing. And in your heart, look to the Lord in worship, submission, joy and reverence. 
6. Review! There are many fantastic ways to review hymns, but our favorite is using a hymn jar. After the month is over, we write the hymn title on a popsicle stick and put it in our hymn jar. We’ll often pick 3 or 4 songs from our jar during our morning routine so that we won’t forget the beautiful songs we’ve learned. It’s amazing to me how well the lyrics often stick in our hearts and minds!

LISTEN IN

You can find fresh versions of the hymn on our YouTube channel that you and your family can sing along with. There are loads of fresh versions of our favorite hymns on our hymn of the month playlist. 

KEEP IT SIMPLE

When we began singing hymns with our littles about 13 years ago, we kept it simple… We prayed and sang one hymn together every night at bedtime for a whole month. Everyone’s family rhythm is different, so we welcome you to gather up your families, for just a few minutes each day, to sing, discuss and memorize this hymn (following your daily time in the Scriptures and in prayer) whether it is first thing in the morning, or around the dinner table or before bedtime – whatever works best for your family. You can let us know how it’s going by posting either a video or a photo on Instagram. Just tag it with #happyhymnody! As always, if you have any questions or if you’d like to share your heart with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out! God bless you all this month as you worship and follow Jesus together as a family!

GOING DEEPER INTO HYMN STUDY

If you want more resources at your finger tips for hymn study, please check out the Happy Hymnody hymn guide for the 2023-2024 school year. Not only does it get all the hymns for the year ahead of schedule, but you get MORE background to the hymn story, the inside scoop to the original text and compositions, discussion questions, coloring pages for every month, extra copywork sheets, and so much more. Read all about it and get yourself a downloadable copy on Etsy. This is also an opportunity for you to financially partner with us in the ministry of Happy Hymnody. Each hymn guide purchase helps us to be able to continue with research and with providing free printables on our site! So, thank you!

With so much warmth and love,

April