There in God's Garden

This is a hymn about Jesus and the crucifixion. It was written by English Congregational minister, composer and musicologist, Erik Routley (1917-1982).

It is a prose translation of the Hungarian hymn “Paradicsomnak te szép élo Fája”, which was written for Good Friday by Hungarian Reformed church teacher and pastor Pécseli Király Imre (c.1585–c.1641.)   (ref)

With meter 11.11.11.5, tunes it is set to include:

• SHADES MOUNTAIN by K. Lee Scott (b 1950), © 1987 MorningStar Music Publishers,
• DIVA SERVATRIX, a Hungarian hymn-tune from Bayeux Antiphoner (1739)

Downloads

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Arranged for SATB soprano descant, brass & organ, optional timpani / percussion by Jeremy J. Bankson - based on SHADES MOUNTAIN

Examples

Choir with organ, recorded live:

Choir and congregation, with organ:

Unaccompanied:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on the publisher's website. A rough outline is:

There in God’s garden stands the tree of wisdom,
... Tree of all beauty.

Its name is Jesus, name that says, “Our Savior!”

Thorns not its own are tangled in its foliage;

See how its branches reach to us in welcome;

This is my ending, this my resurrection:

All heaven is singing, “Thanks to Christ whose Passion

See more ...

• Hymns about Jesus
• Hymns for Good Friday

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
1 There in God’s garden stands the tree of wisdom, whose leaves hold forth the healing of the nations: Tree of all knowledge,Tree of all compassion, Tree of all beauty. 2 Its name is Jesus, name that says, “Our Savior!” There on its branches see the scars of suffering; see where the tendrils of our human self-hood feed on its lifeblood. 3 Thorns not its own are tangled in its foliage; our greed has starved it, our despite has choked it. Yet, look! It lives! Its grief has not destroyed it nor fire consumed it. 4 See how its branches reach to us in welcome; hear what the Voice says, Come to me, ye weary! Give me your sickness, give me all your sorrow; I will give blessing. 5 This is my ending, this my resurrection: into your hands, Lord, I commit my spirit. This have I searched for; now I can possess it. This ground is holy. 6 All heaven is singing, Thanks to Christ whose Passion offers in mercy healing, strength, and pardon. Peoples and nations, take it, take it freely! Amen! Our Saviour!