Worship leader and Christian recording artist Rob Westall was asked to lead the music at his home church's annual Carol service at Gateway in Abergavenny, South Wales.
In this article, Rob reveals the stories behind some of the songs that will be sung at this year's year's event on Sunday 10th December.
KNOWING the inspiration behind the songs we sing, especially in worship, is important.
It can provide context, a deeper understanding and much needed fresh perspective about a song we are perhaps over familiar with - particularly well known Christmas carols.
So as we approach our annual Carol service, I thought the stories behind three of the songs we will be singing would be useful and hopefully interesting. Who knows, it may provide you with some useful trivia for forthcoming Christmas quizes!
O come all ye faithful
A staple of carol services for over two centuries, this popular carol is a united cry to gather and adore ‘Christ the Lord.’
There is a bit of debate about who actually wrote its rousing melody, but John Francis Wade is generally credited with this accomplishment. The lyrics were first printed in Latin in 1751, but translated into the version we know today by English by Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley in 1841.
As with most traditional carols there are a lot of verses to choose from and recently lyrics have been added to it, by modern day worship leaders. Refrains such as, ‘we give you all the glory,’ to the tune of, ‘O come let us adore Him,’ for example, helps the congregation switch from singing about God, to singing to Him directly - which is the point.
Hark the Herald (Hallelujah)
‘Hark the Herald (Hallelujah)’ is a new arrangement of the popular carol, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing,’ I wrote and released in 2021 with Phantom of the Opera star Katy Treharne.
I was approached by UCB Christian Radio to record a carol for their Christmas programmes in 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. I choose ‘Hark the Herald' and the producer suggested that I may want to write a new part for this Christmas classic.
I found it strange that the opening line of the carol, literally means 'listen to the angels sing,' yet we’ve not heard anything from them beforehand. Therefore the idea emerged to write a worship chorus to be sung before the start of the carol which could be woven into the song.
The melodies came quite quickly and all we needed was the lyrics which were inspired by the words the angels are quoted as praising God with on the night of Jesus’ birth (see Luke chapter 2).
This carol is no stranger to tweaks. It was originally written as ‘a hymn for Christmas Day’ by prolific hymn writer and one of the founders of Methodism - Charles Wesley - and was included in the 1739 John Wesley collection - Hymns and Sacred Poems.
The opening line of the carol was changed to the version we sing today, by famous preacher George Whitefield in his 1754 Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. But the stirring tune we sing today did not emerge until 1855, when British musician William Hayman Cummings adapted music written by famous composer Felix Mendelssohn to fit the lyrics.
Saviour of the World
The melody swirled around my head whilst on the way back from a Christmas shopping trip to Cardiff. I was driving, so Anna recorded me humming the tune into my phone and a year later I sat down to write it.
I often get an overarching direction on what the song is about and the lyrics are inspired by the words of Isaiah, prophesying Jesus’ birth and is all about heaven invading earth and the significance of not just Christ's birth, but His subsequent life, teaching, death and resurrection.
The song presents the full Gospel message especially in the bridge, which came later and unexpectedly through my friend Steve, whilst we were recording the demo.
It’s contemporary musical style has helped the song’s Gospel message be heard beyond the church, Christian radio and music streaming sites such as Spotify, Apple Music etc.
In December 2019, a local school choir added it to their repertoire and sang it to over 1,000 people at numerous events locally, singing the Gospel truth to people who wouldn’t have heard it otherwise through the usual channels. And the same school approached me a few weeks back to ask if a new generation of choristers can sing it for their annual Christmas concert.
At that school and the Gateway Carol Service (Sunday 10th November), please pray for the hundreds of people who will hear and perhaps sing these words of truth.
Let’s hope this Christmas be the one when they unwrap the greatest gift of all, offered to them by the Saviour of the World, Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas!
I pray 2024 is your best year yet!
Rob