Who Wrote Onward Christian Soldiers?

“The stirring music of ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’ is the product of Sir Arthur Sullivan, composer not only of the famous ‘Lost Chord’ but of all the operettas, such as H.M.S. Pinafore and The Mikado, that he created with his witty playwright associate, W.S. Gilbert.

The words for ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’ came not from the irreverent Gilbert but from an English divine, [Reverend] Sabine Baring-Gould [1834 – 1924], who one evening in 1865 was trying to write something for the children of his parish to sing for the Whitsunday procession. ‘I just sat up all night,’ he said later,’until I thought of something.’ Winston Churchill picked that ‘something’ to be part of the ceremonies at the signing of the Atlantic Charter on board the Prince of Wales on August 10, 1941, because, he said, ‘I felt we were serving a cause for the sake of which a trumpet has sounded on high!’ President Franklin D. Roosevelt was among those whose voices, along with Churchill’s, were raised in song on that historic occasion.” —100 Favorite Songs Of Faith, Friendship And Love

*The Atlantic Charter established a vision for a post-World War II world, despite the fact that the United States had yet to enter the war…

In brief, the points of agreement of the Atlantic Charter were:

• No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom.
• Territorial adjustments must be in accord with wishes of the peoples concerned.
• The peoples had a right to self-determination.
• Trade barriers were to be lowered.
• There was to be global economic cooperation and advancement of social welfare.
• Freedom from want and fear was to be enforced.
• There was to be freedom of the seas.
• Disarmament of aggressor nations and postwar common disarmament was to be done.

This agreement proved to be one of the first steps towards the formation of the United Nations in 1945.

Onward, Christian Soldiers Lyrics
(Words by Sabine Baring-Gould, Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan)

Onward Christian soldiers,
marching as to war
with the cross of Jesus,
going on before
Christ the royal master,
leads against the foe
Forward into battle,
see His banners go

CHORUS

Onward Christian soldiers,
marching as to war
with the cross of Jesus,
going on before

Like a mighty army
moves the Church of God
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod
We are not divided,
all one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity

CHORUS

Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song
Glory, laud and honor
unto Christ the King
This through countless ages,
men and angels sing

CHORUS