The God we seek, beyond all thought

It was the twin books Carols for Today and Carol Praise (1986–87) which first brought Bryn Rees’ Christmas song into at least some prominence, not long after the author’s death in 1983. His other hymns in Praise! (672 and 758) are much better known, but the simple yet profound biblical paradoxes of this one have much to offer—to a thoughtful congregation rather than for carol-singers under the lamp-post. Tom Cunningham’s JESUS IS BORN, chosen here, is the tune appearing in the first book; David Peacock’s CHRISTOPHER (the name also given to a 17thc tune by C Peter) comes in the second.

b Chelsea, W London 1911, d Epping, Essex 1983. His family moved to the manse at Neath, S Wales, in 1912, so he attended Neath Grammar Sch; then trained for the Congregational ministry at Hackney and New College, N London. He was ordained in 1935, and ministered in churches at Sawbridgeworth (Herts, 1935–40), Ipswich (Suffolk, 1940–45), Felixstowe (Suffolk, 1945–50), then Muswell Hill (N London, 1950–62), Woodford Green (Essex, 1962–72) and Epping (1972–76), where he remained active in retirement. He was also an RAF chaplain. Among his writing was a cantata, The Saviour. Rejoice and Sing includes 3 of his hymns, two of which (with a 3rd) are in Praise!; Of these, 672 and 758 (the latter appearing in Congregational Praise 1951 and GH etc) have come into wide use. Nos.380, 672, 758.