The setting for this hymn is Matthew 2: 1, 2.  Written in 1873 as a processional hymn for Epiphany (in the church year, the twelfth day after Christmas, commemorating the appearance of the star to the Wise Men and their coming to find and worship Jesus), it was first published in Thring’s Hymn and Sacred Lyrics, 1874.  By the end of the second stanza, these wise men have already begun to share on their homeward journey the “light” they have found.  From there on, the hymn challenges us to a mission of sharing Jesus, “guiding star,” with all the world.

Godfrey Thring was born March 25, 1823, at Alford, a small village near Glastonbury, Somerset, England.  He was educated at oxford, gaining his Bachelor of Arts in 1845.  He was ordained in 1846 and served first in two Berkshire parishes, and then was appointed rector of Alford in 1858.  In 1867 he was promoted to be rural dean, and nine years later prebendary of Wells Cathedral in Somerset.  He was the compiler and editor of a high quality hymnal, A Church of England Hymn Book, 1880, which, it was hoped, would replace other hymnbooks published and sold by different “parties” in the church.  One of these was Hymns Ancient and Modern, which in a revised edition is still being sold today.  After retirement near Guildford, Surrey, Thring died September 13, 1903.  Thring also wrote a portion of SDAH 223, “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” 

William Harold Ferguson was born January 1, 1874, at Leeds, England and was educated first as a chorister at Magdalen College, Oxford, then at Keble College, graduating in 1896.  He served as assistant master at St. Edward’s School, Oxford, until 1899, and then at Bilton Grange, near Rugby, for two years.  His training for the ministry was at Cuddesdon College near Oxford, hence the tune name.  After ordination in 1902, He again was assistant master at St. Edward’s School.  He served as 11 years as assistant master, organist, and chaplain at Lancing College: 11 years as warden of St. Edward’s; twelve years as warden of Radley School, Oxford; and 10 years as canon and precentor of Salisbury Cathedral.  He retired in 1947 to Littlehampton in Sussex and died there, October 18, 1950.  He was a member of the headmasters’ Conference, which prepared the public school hymnbook, first printed in 1903 and revised in 1919.  He coedited the music for this work with Geoffrey Shaw.

The tune CUDDESDON is often used in England with the text “At the Name of Jesus” (see SDAH 232).