Cecil Frances Alexander, née Humphreys (1818-1895; see SDAH 93), wrote this hymn based on the Apostles’ Creed in order to simplify it so that children could understand what they were reciting each Sunday. It appeared in her Hymns for Little Children of 1848 and amplifies article 3 of the creed, which, referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, says, “Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.” The scripture on which it is based is Luke 2:7, which states how Mary goes to “the city of David, which is called Bethlehem” (verse 4), and “she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.” 

IRBY was set first to these words in 1849 by Henry John Gauntlett in the pamphlet Christmas Carols, but as a melody only, with a simple piano accompaniment. He harmonized it in 1858 in Alexander’s Hymns for Little Children with the notable moving parts in the last two lines, and named the tune when it was included in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868. Lines 3 and 4 replicate the first two lines, but each of the four parts has an interesting part to sing. There are three places in England named Irby-Irby upon Humber, near Grimsby; Irby in the Marsh, near Skegness; and Irby in the Wirral, 

near Birkenhead-but it is not known if any of these were connected with the composer. 

Henry J. Gauntlett was born in Wellington, Shropshire, on July 9, 1805. At the early age of 9 he was organist at Olney in Buckinghamshire, where his father was the vicar. From age 14 to 20 he was even the choirmaster; among other things he conducted The Messiah during this period. His profession was law, and he practiced this from 1826 till 1842, but at the same time he was church organist successively in two London churches. Then he was appointed organist to the king of Hanover and was able to devote all his time to music. He was awarded the degree of D.Mus. (Lambeth) by the archbishop of Canterbury in 1843, and had the privilege of being organist for the first performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Birmingham, conducted by the composer. He was very interested in psalmody and in Gregorian music, and compiled a book on each topic. He is credited with having composed about 10,000 hymn tunes as well as organ music, songs, and anthems. He died at Kensington, London, on February 21, 1876. Gauntlett also adapted tune SDAH 659, STUTTGART.