Epiphany Hymn: "The growing limbs of God the Son"

Saturday Chorale posts this wonderful hymn - one I've never heard before.  Here's another aspect of the historical celebration of Epiphany - Christ's youth - and one that doesn't figure in to the day much these days, but should!   Beautiful!

Christopher Dearnley (1930–2000) was the organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, between 1968 and 1990. A talented composer in his own write he set 'The growing limbs of God the Son' to the tune known as 'St. Chad'. It's a warm and affectionate piece of music, with a wonderfully fluid melodic line.  It's sung below by the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, conducted by John Scott. Enjoy :-).
markfromireland



Text: The growing limbs of God the Son 

The growing limbs of God the Son,
The Father’s sole-begotten One,
Prepare him for his work on earth,
Who for mankind took human birth.

In wisdom and in grace he grows,
Each step of human life he knows,
In all save sin, like us was made,
To be a fallen people’s aid.

His Father’s house he enters in,
Where rabbis teach their cure for sin,
While in his heart he hears the call
Which through his cross won life for all.

And he who rules angelic bands,
Who high in heavenly glory stands,
Now yields him to his mother’s will,
A boy’s obedience to fulfil.

He all his radiant splendour hides,
And he who made the stars abides
With Joseph and the Mother blest,
In form of servant manifest.

To him, the Father’s only Son,
Let praise and honour now be done,
Who by the Holy Spirit’s grace
Took flesh to save our human race.