Christ Episcopal Church and the Christmas Carol "We Three Kings"

Hymn History: We Three Kings

Author: John Henry Hopkins Jr.

“Many people erroneously assumed the song … was an ancient work. ”
(Mark Bushnell)

The Origin of the Hymn “We Three Kings”

The Christmas hymn We Three Kings holds a cherished place in the musical and devotional traditions of the Christmas season. With its stately melody and vivid imagery, the hymn has helped shape how generations of Christians imagine the journey of the Magi to the Christ child. Its origins, message, and enduring popularity reflect both historical tradition and theological depth.

“We Three Kings” was written in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins Jr., who at the time served as rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Hopkins also held a position as a music teacher at the General Theological Seminary in New York. The hymn was composed for a Christmas pageant, a setting that helps explain its narrative style and dramatic structure. Unlike many carols that simply celebrate the nativity, “We Three Kings” tells a story, giving voice to the Wise Men themselves.

The hymn draws its inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew, which recounts the visit of the Magi—learned men from the East—who followed a star to find the newborn Jesus. While the biblical text does not specify their number or describe them as kings, tradition over time came to identify them as three royal figures, often named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Hopkins embraced this traditional interpretation, shaping it into a poetic and musical form that has proven both memorable and instructive.

One of the distinctive features of “We Three Kings” is its structure. Each verse is sung from the perspective of one of the Magi, describing the gift he brings: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts are not merely decorative details; they carry symbolic meaning. Gold represents kingship, frankincense points to divinity, and myrrh foreshadows suffering and death. In this way, the hymn moves beyond the manger to hint at the full scope of Christ’s life and mission.

Musically, the hymn stands apart from many other Christmas carols. Its melody, composed by Hopkins himself, has a somewhat Eastern flavor, intended to evoke the distant lands from which the Magi traveled. The refrain—“O star of wonder, star of night”—provides a unifying chorus that ties the narrative together and emphasizes the guiding role of the star. This combination of storytelling and musical character gives the hymn a unique place in the Christmas repertoire.

The legacy of “We Three Kings” is closely tied to its ability to convey theological truths in a form that is both accessible and memorable. By presenting doctrine through narrative and symbol, the hymn invites singers and listeners alike to reflect on the identity of Christ. It reinforces the idea that Jesus is not only a child born in humble circumstances but also a king, a divine figure, and a savior whose life carries profound significance.

Over time, the hymn has become a staple of Christmas services, concerts, and caroling traditions, particularly in the United States. Its inclusion in countless hymnals has ensured its transmission across generations. It is often performed in a call-and-response style, with different voices or groups taking the verses of the individual kings, further enhancing its dramatic quality.

The impact of “We Three Kings” extends beyond church walls. It has been recorded by numerous artists and adapted into various musical styles, from traditional choral arrangements to contemporary interpretations. Despite these variations, the core message of the hymn remains intact, demonstrating its resilience and enduring appeal.

In a broader cultural sense, the hymn has also contributed to the popular image of the nativity. For many people, the presence of three kings bearing gifts is inseparable from the Christmas story, even if this detail comes more from tradition than from the biblical text itself. Through its vivid language and memorable melody, “We Three Kings” has helped to fix this image in the collective imagination.

In conclusion, “We Three Kings” is more than a simple Christmas carol. It is a carefully crafted work that blends scripture, tradition, and music into a lasting expression of faith. From its origins in a nineteenth-century pageant to its place in modern celebrations, the hymn continues to guide listeners—much like the star it describes—toward a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christmas.

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From Wikipedia:

At the time he was writing “We Three Kings” in 1857, John Henry Hopkins Jr. was serving as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.^[4][9] Although he originally worked as a journalist for a New York newspaper and studied to become a lawyer,^[5][10] he chose to join the clergy upon graduating from the University of Vermont.^[11] Hopkins studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and after graduating and being ordained a deacon in 1850, he became its first music teacher five years later, holding the post until 1857 alongside his ministry in the Episcopal Church.^[8][11]

During his final year of teaching at the seminary,^[11] Hopkins wrote “We Three Kings” for a Christmas pageant held at the college.^[12] It was noteworthy that Hopkins composed both the lyrics and music; contemporary carol composers usually wrote either the lyrics or music but not both.^[9][13] Originally titled “Three Kings of Orient”, it was sung within his circle of family and friends. Because of the popularity it achieved among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in 1863 in his book Carols, Hymns, and Songs.^[13] It was the first Christmas carol originating from the United States to achieve widespread popularity,^[1] as well as the first to be featured in Christmas Carols Old and New, a “prestigious”^[13] and “influential”^[14] collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom.^[13] In 1916, the carol was printed in the hymnal for the Episcopal Church; that year’s edition was the first to have a separate section for Christmas songs.^[5] “We Three Kings” was also included in the Oxford Book of Carols published in 1928, which praised the song as “one of the most successful of modern composed carols.”^[7]

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Image Source/Credit:
• Creator: Bruce F. Cramer, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons