There cannot have been many West Country marine insurance company managers who prolifically wrote hymns, but Dix was such a person. He wrote this Epiphany hymn whilst ill in bed in 1859, though it is most usually sung during the Christmas period these days. The music was adapted by Monk just two years later in 1861 by Monk when he compiled Hymns Ancient and Modern.

In fact, too ill to go to church, Dix wrote the words on the actual day of Epiphany after reading the Bible text for that day about the Epiphany in the Gospel of St Matthew chapter 2 vv 1-12. A day’s reflection on the story and the words were formed. Sadly, chronologically, this year time has not allowed us the luxury of sending you a specific Epiphany carol on January 6th so it is a little out of synchronisation here today but the Christian concepts of the words would be apt for any day. Here the hymn makes us think about our own spiritual journey and gifts alongside that of the Magi or wise men.

The hymn has appeared in many hymnals, first amongst which were Dix’s Hymns for Public Worship and Private Devotion but then they appeared in Hymns Ancient and Modern with Monk’s adapted music and subsequently Dix’s own Hymns of Love and Joy. Apparently Dix did not in fact like Monk’s music for the words which was such a shame because the music was given a title in tribute to him: ‘Dix’.

This is not the only hymn or carol for which Dix is still widely known; his words ‘What Child is This’ are well known set to the melody Greensleeves and ‘Alleluia, Sing to Jesus’ is a well known hymn for other times of the year.

My adaptation has tried to treat the harp as if it were an organ with varied stops and couplers together with a choir which in the last verse sings a descant.