As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (1918-1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. She was recognized for her writing skills. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland.
From a young age she cultivated a desire to love and serve others in the Lord's name. She especially loved children and spent much of her life ministering to their needs. In 1846 she helped establish a school for deaf and dumb children. Long after she was gone, those who knew her remembered her walking to the farthest regions carrying food and love and then returning home, often in inclement weather.
Encouraged by her father and later by her husband, she composed more than 400 hymns during her lifetime. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandments, and prayer, writing in simple language for children. Even though this hymn was written with children in mind, her clear presentation of the redemptive work of Christ has allowed the hymn to prosper and continue to find favor even among adults.
In the first stanza, the green hill is Golgotha (Calvary), far away in both time and geography. According to lore, the author would often pass by a green hill between her home and Derry, and she associated it with what Calvary might look like. The second line, "Without a city wall," most likely was intended to mean "Outside a city wall," and some hymnals make that change. The last line, "Who died to save us all," is borne out of Scriptures such as 1 John 2:2 ("he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," KJV) and Isaiah 53:6 ("the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all"). Similarly, the second stanza speaks of a substitutionary atonement, as in Galatians 3:13 ("being made a curse for us"), Isaiah 53:5 ("he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities"), or 2 Corinthians 5:21 ("For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin," ESV).
The third stanza speaks of a forgiving act, as in Hebrews 9:22 ("without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins," ESV) or Ephesians 1:6–7 ("To the praise of the glory of his grace, . . . In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins," KJV; also Colossians 1:14). This act also makes us better, bringing about change (2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," etc.). The image of the doorway to heaven continues into stanza four, where it says only Christ was "good enough / To pay the price for sin." Hebrews 4:15 speaks of one "who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." Likewise, 1 Peter 2:22 says, "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth," and 1 John 3:5 says, "You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin" (ESV).
The last stanza is one of application, calling upon worshipers to "love Him too / And trust in His redeeming blood / And try His works to do." The first of these is summarized well in the way the greatest commandment in the Bible is the instruction to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut. 6:5; also Matt. 22:37, Mk. 12:30, Lk. 10:27). The Bible also explains, the one who loves God keeps his commandments (Deut. 7:9, Jn. 14:15,21–24, 1 John 5:3). Finally, 1 Peter 1 tells us to "call on him . . . knowing that you were ransomed . . . with the precious blood of Christ" (1:17–19).
Some believe that this is the most perfect hymn in the English language.
She died in 1895 and is buried in Derry Cemetery … on the very "green hill far away."
From a young age she cultivated a desire to love and serve others in the Lord's name. She especially loved children and spent much of her life ministering to their needs. In 1846 she helped establish a school for deaf and dumb children. Long after she was gone, those who knew her remembered her walking to the farthest regions carrying food and love and then returning home, often in inclement weather.
Encouraged by her father and later by her husband, she composed more than 400 hymns during her lifetime. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandments, and prayer, writing in simple language for children. Even though this hymn was written with children in mind, her clear presentation of the redemptive work of Christ has allowed the hymn to prosper and continue to find favor even among adults.
In the first stanza, the green hill is Golgotha (Calvary), far away in both time and geography. According to lore, the author would often pass by a green hill between her home and Derry, and she associated it with what Calvary might look like. The second line, "Without a city wall," most likely was intended to mean "Outside a city wall," and some hymnals make that change. The last line, "Who died to save us all," is borne out of Scriptures such as 1 John 2:2 ("he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," KJV) and Isaiah 53:6 ("the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all"). Similarly, the second stanza speaks of a substitutionary atonement, as in Galatians 3:13 ("being made a curse for us"), Isaiah 53:5 ("he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities"), or 2 Corinthians 5:21 ("For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin," ESV).
The third stanza speaks of a forgiving act, as in Hebrews 9:22 ("without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins," ESV) or Ephesians 1:6–7 ("To the praise of the glory of his grace, . . . In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins," KJV; also Colossians 1:14). This act also makes us better, bringing about change (2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," etc.). The image of the doorway to heaven continues into stanza four, where it says only Christ was "good enough / To pay the price for sin." Hebrews 4:15 speaks of one "who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." Likewise, 1 Peter 2:22 says, "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth," and 1 John 3:5 says, "You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin" (ESV).
The last stanza is one of application, calling upon worshipers to "love Him too / And trust in His redeeming blood / And try His works to do." The first of these is summarized well in the way the greatest commandment in the Bible is the instruction to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut. 6:5; also Matt. 22:37, Mk. 12:30, Lk. 10:27). The Bible also explains, the one who loves God keeps his commandments (Deut. 7:9, Jn. 14:15,21–24, 1 John 5:3). Finally, 1 Peter 1 tells us to "call on him . . . knowing that you were ransomed . . . with the precious blood of Christ" (1:17–19).
Some believe that this is the most perfect hymn in the English language.
She died in 1895 and is buried in Derry Cemetery … on the very "green hill far away."
1 There is a green hill far away,
without a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear;
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiv'n,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav'n,
saved by his precious blood.
to pay the price of sin;
he only could unlock the gate
of heav'n, and let us in.
5 O dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
Listen to it here. GREEN
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