How Wonderful the Three-in-One

This is a hymn of praise and adoration of the Trinity. The original title is The Three in One.

The words were written by English theologian, minister (United Reformed Church, then free-lance) and hymn-writer Brian A. Wren (b 1936), and first published in 1989 by Stainer & Bell Ltd, England.

With meter 8.8.8.8, tunes it is set to include:

PROSPECT (Graham) - composer unknown, from Southern Harmony, 1835 - this appears to be the most-commonly recorded tune with this hymn
ROCKINGHAM (Miller) adapted from an earlier tune by Edward Miller (1735-1807)
OLD HUNDREDTH, attributed to French composer Louis Bourgeois (c. 1510 -1561)

Image adapt from The Holy Trinity, Antonio de Pereda (1611–1678)

Downloads

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Concertato on PROSPECT for SATB choir, assembly, organ accompaniment, handbells , arranged by James Vyhanek

Examples

Choir with light organ, professional recording:

Choir with organ, recorded live in a church service, tune PROSPECT:

Singer with piano:

Virtual choir with piano and bells:

Cantor with organ, tune ROCKINGHAM

Singer with guitar:

Music group with guitar:

Instrumental - midi, with sheet music on screen - for rehearsal purposes:

Lyrics

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

1. How wonderful the Three-in-One, whose energies of dancing light ...

2. Before the flow of dawn and dark, creation's lover dreamed of earth ...

3 The lover's own belov'd, in time between a cradle and a cross,

4. Their equal friend all life sustains with greening power and loving care,

5 How wonderful the living God: divine beloved, empow'ring friend ...