Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Gentle Mary Laid Her Child' were written by the clergyman Joseph Simpson Cook (1859-1933) in 1859, Cook was born in England but emigrated to Canada in his youth where he became a Minister in the United Church of Canada. The music dates back to 1582 and is from the from Piae Cantiones. The Piae Cantiones is a collection of medieval Latin songs which originate from Finland. The first collection of these songs were published in the 1600's by Theodoricus Petri Rutha. The first English edition was published in 1910 by G.R. Woodward.

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
Christmas Carol Lyrics

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
Gentle Mary laid her Child
Lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled,
To the world a Stranger.
Such a Babe in such a place,
Can he be the saviour?
Ask the saved of all the race
Who have found His favour.

Angels sang about His birth,
Wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven's star shone brightly forth
Glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night,
All the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her Child
Lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled,
But no more a Stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
Beautiful the story;
Praise His Name in all the earth,
Hail! the King of Glory!

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
Christmas Carol Lyrics