It was actually famed evangelist George Whitefield, a friend of John and Charles Wesley, that made the adjustments when he published this song in his Hymns for Social Worship in 1753. So who changed this line to what we sing today? The word appears not to have been very commonly used in Wesley’s day, and it is pretty much non-existent in our vocabulary today. It is ringing because of the joyful exaltation of the heavenly host. Well, it comes from an Old English word “wolcen” and simply means cloud, sky, or heavens. What on earth is a “welkin” and why would it ring? While there are other differences, the first line is what stands out. The hymn, under the title “Hymn for Christmas-Day,” originally went as follows: It was first published in Sacred Hymns and Poems – Charles’ first joint hymnal with his brother John. The prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley first wrote these lyrics in 1739, a year after his conversion ( See the hymn he wrote to commemorate that event). ![]() Here’s the story behind the original hymn, the change in its lyrics, and how it came to be the familiar song we know today. What on earth is a welkin? And how did this hymn change over time? Hark how all the welkin rings, Glory to the King of Kings But you might not recognize the original lyrics. ![]() Hark the Herald Angels Sing is one of the best-known and best-loved Christmas songs and has been for well over 260 years.
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