Lewis Redner

REDNER, Lewis Henry. b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 December 1830; d. 29 August 1908. Redner became an estate agent in his native town, where he also served various churches as organist and Sunday school superintendent. He was particularly associated with Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where Phillips Brooks*, author of ‘O little town of Bethlehem’*, was rector. Redner wrote the tune for ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ on Christmas morning, 1868. Although Brooks had asked for a tune earlier, Redner is said to have managed to write it and harmonize it only on Christmas Day itself. It was given the name ST LOUIS by William R. Huntingdon, who first published it in The Church Porch (New York,...