The Church in the Wildwood

The Church in the Wildwood Lyrics

1 There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood,
No lovelier spot in the dale;
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

Refrain:
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the vale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

2 Oh, come to the church in the wildwood,
To the trees where the wild flowers bloom;
Where the parting hymn will be chanted,
We will weep by the side of the tomb. [Refrain]

3 How sweet on a clear Sunday morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale. [Refrain]

4 From the church in the valley by the wildwood,
When day fades away into might,
I would fain from this spot of my childhood
Wing my way to the mansions of light. [Refrain]

The Church in the Wildwood Hymn Story

“The Church in the Wildwood” is a hymn that was written by William Savage Pitts. This song came about after he visited his fiancée in Iowa.

While travelling in a horse drawn wagon he stopped to rest and walked about. As he did this, he saw a picturesque, wooded valley by the Cedar River.

As he looked at this place, he started envisioning a church building there. And when he returned home, he wrote a poem that envisioned the church in that wooded valley.

He called the poem, “Church in the wildwood”.

In 1862 when he returned to Iowa, he visited the wooded valley, and he was pleasantly surprised to find people building a church in the same wooded valley.

After telling them his old vision they invited him to bring his church choir for the dedication of the church. He did this in 1863 and that was the first time that this beautiful song was ever sung.

What a story!

William Savage Pitts - The church in the wildwood
William Savage Pitts

Below are more hymns’ lyrics and stories:

The Haven of Rest Lyrics, Story, and Video

We’ll Understand it Better By and By Lyrics, Story, and Video

Leave it There Lyrics, Story, and Video

Highway to Heaven Lyrics, Story, and Video

We Shall Meet By and By Lyrics, Story and Video

The Church in the Wildwood Hymn Video

Bill & Gloria Gaither – The Church in the Wildwood [Live]

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