O Christ, Who art the Light and Day

O Christ, Who art the Light and Day.  William John Copeland* (1804-1885). This is Copeland’s translation of ‘Christe qui lux es et dies’*. Like the original, it is a hymn for Lent, and associated with Evening (‘Christe qui lux ...’ was sung daily at Compline during the winter months). It was well known on the Continent. The Historical Edition of A&M (1909, p. 146) points out that a German version, ‘Christe der du bist Tag und Licht’, dating from 1526, was translated by Miles Coverdale* for his Goostly psalmes and spirituall songes (1535/36). It began ‘O Christ that art the light and daye’. This hymn has undergone an extraordinary amount of re-writing. It was printed in the First...