O LITTLE TOWN of BETHLEHEM

Phillips Brook, an English clergyman and a ninth generation descendant of the Puritans, visited Bethlehem in the year 1865. His visit inspired the carol we know as "O Little Town of Bethlehem," first written as a poem. A year after his pilgrimage to the Holy city where he assisted with the midnight service on Christmas Eve, Lewis Redner put the poem to music. Lewis Redner served as the organist at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Phillips recalls being inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine, and the voices "ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God..."

A beautiful, but different tune for this carol...