Hail Rev. John Neale for his ‘Carols for Christmastide’

Historians affiliated with Oldest.org in Los Angeles, Calif., have identified a “great eight” list of the oldest Christmas songs.

Half of them can be traced to an Anglican priest born in London, England – the Rev. John Mason Neale. Many of his works as a hymnodist were published in 1853 as “Neale’s Carols for Christmastide.” A brilliant and humble man, Rev. Neale was “best known for research and translations of ancient Greek and Latin religious texts; he was proficient in 21 different languages,” wrote Ron Clancy of Christmas Classics Ltd. in Cape May, N.J. 

 “The contributions of Rev. Neale to the revitalization of ancient and medieval church hymns and his deft translations of them cannot be underestimated,” Clancy said. 

Rev. Neale was associated with important seasonal hymns such as “Good King Wenceslas,” “Christ Was Born on Christmas Day,” “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.” All four are cited by Oldest.org as being among the “8 Oldest Christmas Songs in the World.”

 

Perhaps Rev. Neale’s most sacred carol, though, was “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” which he translated from Latin in 1851,” Clancy added.

 

The late Stephen Hutcheson, creator of the Eclectic Ethereal Encyclopedia, said: “As a translator of ancient Latin and Greek hymns, John Mason Neale has not an equal; he was a most voluminous writer on an infinite variety of other subjects as well. His linguistic powers were enormous.” 

Incredibly, one-eighth of the hymns in Church of England’s traditional hymnal were written by Rev. Neale, either as originals or as translations. 

John Mason Neale became an ordained priest in 1842, but due to ill health caused by consumption (tuberculosis), he was relegated to duties as the warden of Sackville College in East Grinstead, West Sussex County, England. The facility was an almshouse, a charitable residence for 30 poor and aged occupants.

 

Rev. Neale and his wife, Sarah, had five children. Rev. Neale died at Sackville in 1866, at age 48. 

Michelle Darrisaw, a contributor to Southern Living magazine, commented that Rev. Neale indeed upheld the principles expressed by “Good King Wenceslas,” who showed considerable compassion for the poor and the sick.

“Neale was looking for a good role model for children. He found him in King Wenceslas of Bohemia,” she wrote. 

“Rev. Neale led an exemplary life…caring for the lowliest on society’s scale, and his Christian deeds set him apart from other Anglican clerics holding more lofty positions.” 

Here’s a quick mention of the other four ancient Christmas songs selected by Oldest.org. 

“Jesus, Light of All the Nations” is generally regarded as the first Christmas song, written in the 4th century by Saint Hilary of Poitiers in France.

 

“The Friendly Beasts” is a French song from the 12th century. Translated into English in 1920, this song is still regularly sung today, often by children’s choirs. The nativity scene animals (a donkey, cow, sheep, dove and camel) describe their roles in the event.

 

“Between the Ox and the Grey Donkey” is yet another song from France that surfaced in the 13th century. It describes the nativity scene from the perspective of two large animals that were there. 

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (originally “Adeste Fideles”) also is from the 13th century. Although its origin is disputed, the most popular translation of the song was published in 1841 by Frederick Oakeley, an English Catholic priest.

 

Maddy Shaw Roberts, an editor as Classic FM in London, says: “The rousing melody of ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ is a guaranteed barnstormer with which all Christmas carol services should end.” Amen.