CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> Mission of the church
SDAH 362
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Lift High the Cross
First written as a processional hymn for a missionary festival, this stirring anthem echoes Jesus’ words in John 12:32—“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” With bold lines and majestic music, it calls believers to rally under the banner of Christ’s cross. Though revised from George Kitchin’s original 12 stanzas and later refined by Michael Newbolt, the heart of the hymn remains: a triumphant call to declare Christ’s victory to the world. Set to Sydney Nicholson’s tune CRUCIFER, it still leads processions today—spiritually and literally—as we bear the cross into every part of life.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
The original 12 stanza of this missionary hymn were written by George Kitchin as a processional for a festival to be held in June 1887 in Winchester Cathedral by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Rewritten by Michael Newbolt, it was first printed in the 1916 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. It is based on John 12:32. Several alternations have been made to change some of the male-oriented language.
George William Kitchin was born December 7, 1827, at Naughton, Suffolk, England. He was educated at King’s College School and Christ Church, Oxford, and was ordained an Anglican minister in 1852. His distinguished career included being a tutor at Oxford, headmaster at a school in Twyford, first censor (overseer of morality, or chaplain) of noncollegiate students at Oxford for 15 years, lecturer in history at several colleges, dean of Winchester cathedral (1883-1894), dean of Durham Cathedral (1894- 1912), and from 1909 the chancellor of the University of Durham. His published writings include works on history, biography, and archaeology. He died October 13, 1912, at Durham.
Michael Robert Newbolt, born in 1874 at Dymock, Gloucestershire, England, went to Radley School and St. John’s College, Oxford. Ordained a deacon (assistant to the priest) in the Church of England in 1899, and a priest in 1900, he served a number of churches in Oxfordshire, then in Brighton, and finally as canon of Chester Cathedral (1927-1946). He died February 7, 1956.
Sydney Hugo Nicholson 91875-1947; see FENITON, SDAH 147) was the founder of the School of English Church music. For nine years he was the organist at Westminster Abbey. He wrote CRUCIFER (Crossbearing) for these words; it was first used in the 1916 supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern. Carl Schalk has made a fine choral arrangement of this tune.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
Refrain
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
1
Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
2
Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
3
All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of Him Who died.
4
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee.
5
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Matt 16:16 (c) Rev 7:3 (d) John 12:32 (r) 2 Cor 5:14
Author
George W. Kitchin (1827-1912); Michael R. Newbolt (1874-1956)
Performance Suggestions
Unison
Copyright
Words and music used by permission of Hymns Ancient and Modern
Hymn Tune
CRUCIFER
Metrical Number
10.10.10.10.
Composer
Sydney H. Nicholson (1875-1947)
