Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), an Episcopal priest and rector of Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia and then of Trinity Church in Boston, had an extensive influence in the American church through his Lectures on Preaching, Delivered Before the Divinity School of Yale College, which became a standard seminary textbook, although it is only occasionally read by students today. He wrote the words to this carol in 1868, reflecting on his personal pilgrimage to Bethlehem three years earlier, in 1865.

Lewis Redner (1831-1908), organist at Brooks’s church in Philadelphia, wrote the tune “St. Louis” to which the carol is most often sung in the United States. In England it is more commonly sung to “Forest Green,” adapted by Ralph Vaughn Williams from an earlier tune in 1903.

The hymn is notable for the “turn” in the fourth stanza. Where the first three stanzas had been descriptive in character (we talk about the birth of the savior, addressing first the town of Bethlehem and then one another in the congregation), in the fourth stanza we have shifted into the language of prayer (we turn to address the Holy Child of Bethlehem directly, asking him cleanse us and indwell us).

1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

2. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God, the King, and peace to men on earth

3. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, yet in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

4. O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels their great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel.

Sarah McLachlan, singing two stanzas 1, 3, and 4.