For many people, music is one of the most important parts of celebrating Christmas. Christmas hymns can bring a sense of joy and peace when heard over the radio, or sung in worship, or around the family piano.
“What Child is This” is the best loved and most heard Christmas hymn of all time! Is was written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865.
The second most beloved Christmas hymn of all time is “Joy to the World”. This year, the song is 300 years old. It was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, who was one of the great hymn writers in church history.
Watts was born on July 17, 1674, in Southampton, Hampshire, England. He began learning Latin by the age of 4 years, Greek at age 9, French at age 11, and Hebrew at age 13. In 1702 he became pastor of London’s Mark Lane Independent Chapel.
An English non-conformist (one who did not embrace the established Church of England) minister, he was regarded as the father of English hymnody. He was not only the author of the beautiful hymn “Joy to the World”, but also wrote educational books on geography, astronomy, grammar, and philosophy.
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