Feast of Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft de Chenez (June 21)

Above:  Ireland, October 19, 2012

Image Source = Jet Propulsion Library, NASA

(http://www.dvidshub.net/image/753233/ireland-image-day#.UsH_2_RDsgQ)

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CHARITIE LEES SMITH BANCROFT DE CHENEZ (JUNE 21, 1840-JUNE 20, 1923)

Hymn Writer

Information about the saint born as Charitie Lees Smith can be difficult to find.  I have, in fact, located more words she wrote than facts about her.

Charitie Lees Smith, born in Ireland, was the daughter of the Reverend Sidney Smith, a Rector of the Church of Ireland.  Our saint began to write hymns before she married.  Lyra Britannica (1867), edited by Dr. Charles Rogers, listed her name as “Smith,” as did Hymns for the Church on Earth:  Being Three Hundred Hymns and Spiritual Songs (For the Most Part of Modern Date) (1865), edited by Bishop John Charles Ryle.  In 1869 she married Arthur E. Bancroft.  Nine years later, Lyra Hibernica Sacra, edited by William McIlwaine, listed our saint as “Mrs. Bancroft.”  Mr. Bancroft died eventually, and his widow remarried, this time to one Mr. de Chenez, who she outlived.

Our saint, author of Within the Veil (1867), a collection of her hymns, published some of her texts in aforementioned volumes, where I have found them and from which I have copied them.  They are wordy and excellent compositions.  Exhibit A follows:

The King of glory standeth

Beside that heart of sin,

His mighty voice commandeth

The raging waves within;

The floods of deepest anguish

Roll backward at His will,

As o’er the storm ariseth,

His mandate, “Peace, be still.”

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At times, with sudden glory,

He speaks, and all is done!

Without one stroke of batle

The victory is won:

While we with joy beholding,

Can scarce believe it true,

That e’en our kingly Jesus

Conform such hearts anew.

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He comes in blood-stained garments;

Upon His brow a crown;

The gates of brass fly open,

The iron bonds drop down.

From off the fetter’d captive

The chains of Satan fall,

While angels shout triumphant,

That Christ is Lord of all.

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But sometimes in the stillness,

He gently draweth near,

And whispers words of welcome,

Into the sinner’s ear;

With anxious heart He waileth

The answer of His cry,

That oft repeated question,

“O wherefore wilt Thou die?”

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On, in the gathering darkness,

With wounded feet and sore,

The suppliant Saviour standeth

And knocketh at the door;

The bleak winds howl around Him,

The unbelief and sin;

Yet Jesus waits, entreating

That He may enter in.

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He whispers through the portal;

He woos them with His love;

He calls them to the kingdom

That waits for them above:

He speaks of all the gladness

His yearning heart would give,

Tells of the cleansing fountain,

And bids them, “Wash, and live.”

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Oh, Christ, His love is mighty!

Long-suffering is His grace!

And glorious is the splendor

That beameth from His face!

Our hearts up leap in gladness,

When we behold that love,

As we go singing onward

To dwell with Him above.

I have added more exhibits to my GATHERED PRAYERS weblog.

All of these texts speak of our saint’s deep Christian faith.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JANUARY 12, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF HENRY ALFORD, DEAN OF CANTERBURY

THE FEAST OF SAINT AELRED, ABBOT OF RIEVAULX

THE FEAST OF SAINT BENEDICT BISCOP, ABBOT OF JARROW

THE FEAST OF JOHN HORDEN, ANGLICAN BISHOP OF MOOSONEE

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Dear God of beauty,

you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to

Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft de Chenez and others, who have composed hymn texts.

May we, as you guide us,

find worthy hymn texts to be icons,

through which we see you.

In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 44:1-3a, 5-15

Psalm 147

Revelation 5:11-14

Luke 2:8-20

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

APRIL 20, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINTS AMATOR OF AUXERRE AND GERMANUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS; SAINT MAMERTINUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT; AND SAINT MARCIAN OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK

THE FEAST OF JOHANNES BUGENHAGEN, GERMAN LUTHERAN PASTOR

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARCELLINUS OF EMBRUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP

THE FEAST OF OLAVUS AND LAURENTIUS PETRI, RENEWERS OF THE CHURCH