It Is A Thing Most Wonderful : Lyrics
1. It is a thing most wonderful,
Almost too wonderful to be,
That God’s own Son should come from Heav’n,
And die to save a child like me.
2. And yet I know that it is true;
He chose a poor and humble lot,
And wept and toiled and mourned and died,
For love of those who loved Him not.
3. I cannot tell how He could love
A child so weak and full of sin;
His love must be most wonderful,
If He could die my love to win.
4. I sometimes think about the cross,
And shut my eyes, and try to see
The cruel nails and crown of thorns,
And Jesus crucified for me.
5. But even could I see Him die,
I could but see a little part
Of that great love, which, like a fire,
Is always burning in His heart.
6. It is most wonderful to know
His love for me so free and sure;
But ’tis more wonderful to see
My love for Him so faint and poor.
7. And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;
Oh, light the flame within my heart,
And I will love Thee more and more,
Until I see Thee as Thou art.
- Lyricist: William Walsham How (1823-1897)
- Meter: LM.
It Is A Thing Most Wonderful : Recording
- Tune: Herongate, a traditional English tune collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). This arrangement: Copyright © 2011 Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955).
- Performance ℗ 2022 Richard Irwin Music®. All rights reserved. ISRC UKTU21900494.
- Cover image by Johannes Plenio.
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Lectionary
The following are suggestions for Sundays and feast days when this hymn might be sung. Please feel free to contact us, if you have other suggestions.
- Years A, B and C
- All Saints
- Holy Week Wednesday
- Good Friday
- Lectionary Year A
- Year A Lent 2
- Year A Lent 5
- Year A Palm Sunday – Liturgy of The Palms and Liturgy of The Passion
- Year A Proper 11, Ordinary 16 Trinity 6
- Year A Proper 13, Ordinary 18, Trinity 8
- Year A Proper 22, Ordinary 27, Trinity 17
- Lectionary Year B
- Year B Epiphany 2
- Year B Lent 4
- Year B Palm Sunday – Liturgy of The Palms and Liturgy of The Passion
- Year B Easter 3
- Year B Proper 6, Ordinary 11, Trinity 2
- Year B Proper 24, Ordinary 29, Trinity 20
- Lectionary Year C
- Year C Palm Sunday – Liturgy of The Palms and Liturgy of The Passion
- Year C Proper 18, Ordinary 23, Trinity 12
- Year C Proper 24, Ordinary 29, Trinity 18
Is it O.K. to play a recording of “It is a thing most wonderful” – tune Herongate sung by Trinity College Cambridge at my mother’s funeral at the beginning of August. As hymns cannot be sung due to the COVID-19 pandemic I thought it would be uplifting to play a recording of the above.
Dear Mary
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I do not control the copyright for this recording, but pretty certain that the Church will have a CCLI licence in place that should allow them to play the hymn at your mother’s funeral.
Joy and blessings
Richard