Brian Arthur Wren (1936- ; see Biographies) wrote this hymn concerning the Transfiguration while doing graduate study in theology at Mansfield College, England. The words are a paraphrase of the Transfiguration story as found in Mark 9. 

In an interview published in The Hymn, April 1984, Wren says, “A hymn writer also needs to think in picture language. You try to give the reader a vehicle to ride in, … which gives a fresh view of the way and the destination. Next you need to control the picture language you use so that it is consistent and theologically sound.” Surely the graphic language he has chosen for this hymn paints for us a vivid picture: “Stands alone in glory blazing”; “Trembling at His feet we saw”; “Swift the cloud of glory came.” 

It was only the second hymn he wrote, but already he showed a natural gift for powerful lyric expression. 

Sydney Hugo Nicholson was born February 9, 1875, in London to an aristocratic family headed by Sir Charles Nicholson, the founder and first chancellor of the University of Sydney, Australia. Sir Charles named his son after this city, where he spent nearly 40 years. In this household, a musical career was considered to be menial and of doubtful future prospects, but Sydney rebelled and finally became one of the leading forces shaping English church music. His education was at Rugby, New College, Oxford, and the Royal College of Music, where he studied under Sir Charles Stanford (see SDAH 32). He served as organist at Barnet Parish Church (1897); Lower Chapel, Eton College (1903); Carlisle Cathedral (1904); Manchester Cathedral (1908-1918); and Westminster Abbey (1919-1927). In 1927 he retired to found the School of English Church Music at St. Nicholas College, Chislehurst, and devoted the rest of his life to its improvement and success. It is now called the Royal School of Church Music and is located at Addington Palace, Croydon. In 1938 he was knighted for outstanding service to English church music. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was awarded a D.Mus. degree by the archbishop of Canterbury. He died at Ashford, Kent, on May 30, 1947. 

Nicholson’s musical life was closely bound up with the world’s most durable and successful hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern. In 1913 he became its musical editor, in 1928 he was the first layman to be a proprietor, and from 1938 to 1947 he was chairman. He was instrumental in broadening the musical horizons of this staid old book, including a few tunes Church of England congregations had not heard before. This tune, FENITON, is considered to be one of the finest tunes he wrote, with a sweeping dignity that seems to be made for singing in a vaulted cathedral. He marked it to be sung “slow,” which would certainly add to its effectiveness in such a spacious setting. Notice that the final score of the music is double, one staff for the singers and one for the accompaniment. The latter is written expressly for organ, but can be condensed for piano by playing the small notes. Nicholson also composed some hymns and anthems, songs, a comic opera, and books on musical topics.