WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

William Chatterton Dix was born in Bristol England in 1837.  His father was a surgeon who wanted him to follow his footsteps into medicine.  Having no interest in this career, William left training and moved to Glasgow to manage a maritime insurance company. 

His greatest love was in writing prose and poetry for Christ.  He wrote two devotional books, a book for children and scores of hymns;  several of these hymns remain popular.  William’s hymns are masterpieces of poetry, filled with rich scriptural truth.

The melody of his hymn WHAT CHILD IS THIS? is a famous old British bar tune called “Greensleeves.”  It is written in E minor, which some have suggested as the saddest of all keys.  Regardless of its origin, for the last 150 years, Greensleeves has been most identified with this Christmas Carol.

As the carol exclaims, “This, this is Christ the King…” “the King of Kings, salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him!” 

In the same way that this bar tune was redeemed by a sacred message, we too are redeemed by the miracle of hope and peace offered to all by the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem that first Christmas.