Walter Chalmers Smith (1824 – 1908)

Walter Chalmers SmithWalter Chalmers Smith (1824 – 1908) was a Scottish hymnist, poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland and is chiefly remembered for his hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.

He was born in Aberdeen and attended Marischal College at the University of Aberdeen and New College, Edinburgh. He received the degrees of D.D. and LL.D.

He was ordained pastor of the Chadwell Street Scottish Church, Pentonville, Islington, London, on Christmas Day, 1850. He later served at:

  • Roxburgh Free Church, Deinburgh
  • Orwell Free Church
  • Milnathort, Kinrossshire(1853-1858)
  • Free Tron Church, Glasgow,
  • Reid Memorial Church, Edinburgh
  • Free High Church, Edinburgh (1874-1884)

The Free Church of Scotland elected him its moderator during its Jubilee year in 1893. He was a distinguished preacher and a man of catholic sympathies.

See Wikipedia for more details.

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise (Saint Denio, Organ, 4 Verses)

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise : Lyrics

1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

3. To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

4. Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light;
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

Meter: 11 11 11 11. Lyrics by Walter Chalmers Smith (1824 – 1908) based upon 1 Timothy 1: 17. Public Domain.

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise : Recording

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise : Download

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Score

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Lectionary and Other Uses

Notes on Immortal Invisible God Only Wise

The text used by Walter Chalmers Smith (1824 – 1908) is based on “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.” from this text on 1 Timothy 1: 17 and first published with six verses in his Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life (1867).