Onward Christian Soldiers: Anthem for Spiritual Warfare

Category: Music

Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward Christian Soldiers was written by the Anglican Priest Sabine Baring-Gould (28 January 1834 – 2 January 1924) in 1865 inspired by the Scripture Matthew 16:18:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”

The music was written by composer Arthur S. Sullivan in 1871 — a tune called St. Gertrude.

The story behind the Hymn:

Sabine Baring-Gould wrote: “Whit-Monday [the day after Pentecost] is a great day for school festivals in Yorktown. One Whit-Monday, thirty years ago, it was arranged that our school should join forces with that of a neighboring village. I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to another, but couldn’t think of anything quite suitable; so I sat up at night, resolved that I would write something myself. ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’ was the result.”

At that time, he called it “A Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners,” as the children marched with a cross held high and carried various Christian banners.

Baring-Gould reportedly wrote this hymn in about 15 minutes. He later apologized, “It was written in great haste, and I am afraid that some of the lines are faulty.” It was due to this fact that he allowed hymn-book compilers to alter the lyrics. The Fellowship Hymn Book, with his permission, changed the phrase ‘one in hope and doctrine’ to ‘one in hope and purpose.” For the 1909 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, he changed the fifth line of the same verse from ‘We are not divided’ to ‘Though divisions harass.”

However, Baring-Gould’s original words are used in most modern hymnals.

Baring-Gould originally set these words to a tune from the slow movement of Hadyn’s Symphony in D, No. 15. It was first printed the same year it was written, in an English church periodical, the Church Times, and later in several books containing new hymns. It did not receive wide acceptance, however, until Arthur S. Sullivan wrote a new tune for it. This tune, St Gertrude, is the tune that appears in Sullivan’s book, The Hymnal. Paired with the new tune, ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ literally circled the globe within ten years.

The Lyrics

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain