ANGEL VOICES, EVER SINGING CHURCH HYMN

Angel voices, ever singing, round Thy throne of light,
Angel harps, forever ringing, rest not day or night;
Thousands only live to bless Thee, and confess Thee Lord of might.

Thou Who art beyond the farthest mortal eye can scan,
Can it be that Thou regardest songs of sinful man?
Can we feel that Thou art near us and wilt hear us? Yea, we can.

Lord, we know Thy love rejoices o’er each work of Thine;
Thou didst ears and hands and voices for Thy praise combine;
Craftsman’s art and music’s measure for Thy pleasure didst design.

Here, great God, today we offer of Thine own to Thee;
And for Thine acceptance proffer, all unworthily,
Hearts and minds, and hands and voices, in our choicest melody.

Honor, glory, might and merit, Thine shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity;
Of the best that Thou hast given Earth and heaven render Thee.

ABOUT FRANCIS POLT

Francis Pott was born December 29, 1832, at Southwark, Surrey, England. He died October 26, 1909, at Speldhurst, Kent, England.

Pott attended Brasenose College, Oxford, England (BA 1854, MA 1857), and took Holy Orders in 1856. He served as curate at Bis­hops­worth, Glou­cester­shire, 1858-1868; Ardlingly, Berk­shire, 1858-1861; Ticehurst, Sussex, 1861-1866; and as rec­tor at Nor­hill, Bedfordshire, 1866.

Francis Pott wrote several original hymns, but is better known as a hymn trans­lat­or. Som­etimes his work is in­cor­rect­ly at­trib­ut­ed to “Alfred” Pott.

Pott served on the committee which compiled Hymns Ancient and Modern, and edited Hymns Fitted to the Order of Common Prayer (1861) and The Free Rhythm Psalter (1898). He retired due to deafness in 1891.