When Christ was born of Mary free

General information

Traditional carol, C15th.

Settings by composers

• Anonymous (Traditional) SATB (minor textual variances)
• Arthur Henry Brown SATB
• Tim Pratt SATB
• Richard R. Terry SATB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Steve Draper — When Christ was born of Mary free
• Richard R. Terry — Twelve Christmas Carols

Text and translations

English text

When Christ was born of Mary free,
in Bethlehem that fair city,
Angels sang there with mirth and glee
in excelsis gloria.

Herdsmen beheld these angels bright,
to them appearing with great light,
who said: “God’s Son is born this night,
in excelsis gloria.

This King is come to save mankind
in Scripture promises as we find,
therefore this song have we in mind,
in excelsis gloria.

Grant us, O Lord, for thy great grace
in heaven in bliss to see thy face
where we may sing to thy solace,
in excelsis gloria!