Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#271

271. We Know that Christ Is Raised

Text Information

• First Line: We know that Christ is raised and dies no more
• Title: We Know that Christ Is Raised
• Author: John B. Geyer (1967, alt.)
• Refrain First Line: Alleluia! Alleluia!
• Meter: 10 10 10 with alleluias
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Mark 10:13-16
  ;
  Romans 6:4
  ;
  Romans 6:11
• Topic: Baptism; Easter; Trinity
• Copyright: Used by permission.

Tune Information

• Name: WALLACE (Landis)
• Composer: Keith Landis (1977)
• Harmonizer: Jeffrey Rickard (1977)
• Meter: 10 10 10 with alleluias
• Key: A♭ Major
• Copyright: © 1994 Selah Publishing Co., Inc

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12

The author, John B. Geyer, writes:

“We Know That Christ Is Raised" was written in 1967, when I was tutor at Cheshunt College, Cambridge, U.K At that time a good deal of work was going on 'round the corner (involving a number of American research students) producing living cells ("the baby in the test tube"). The hymn attempted to illustrate the Christian doctrine of baptism in relation to those experiments.

John B. Geyer (b. Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, 1932) is an Old Testament scholar who has written widely in his field. He wrote a commentary on The Wisdom of Solomon (1973) as well as a number of hymns that were first published in various British supplementary hymnals. Educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, and Mansfield College, Oxford, he also studied Old Testament under Gerhard von Rad in Heidelberg. In 1959 Geyer was ordained in the Congregational Union of Scotland. He served as a chaplain at the University of St. Andrews, pastor of Drumchapel Congregational Church in Glasgow, Scotland, and a college tutor. In 1969 Geyer became minister in the (now) United Reformed Church in Little Baddow. Since 1980 he has served as pastor at Weoley Hill, Birmingham, and as chaplain at the University of Birmingham, England.

The text was first published in the British Methodist supplementary hymnal Hymns and Songs (1969) but has since been altered in various other hymnals, including the Psalter Hymnal. The controlling thought comes from Romans 6:3-5, in which Paul teaches that in baptism we are united with Christ in his resurrection–that is the basis for our new life. Like 269, this song ends each stanza with a note of praise–in this case with an "alleluia" refrain line.

Liturgical Use:
Infant or adult baptism; Easter.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Composed by C. Keith Landis (b. Chicago, IL, 1922), WALLACE first appeared in Sixty Hymns from Songs of Zion (Praise Publications, Inc., 1977). It was first sung at the American Guild of Organists Southern California Conference in 1978. The tune was named for a family friend. Landis was a pastor in the Los Angeles area with a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (1946), and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California (1958).

WALLACE was harmonized by Jeffrey H. Rickard (b. Pasadena, CA, 1942), who received both his B.M. and M.M. from the University of Redlands in California and is currently director of choral activities there. Composer of many choral works, he is also minister of music at Trinity Episcopal Church, Redlands, California, and associate director of publications and musical editor for Praise Publications, Whittier, California.

WALLACE calls for solid organ support. Sing the stanzas in unison, perhaps with the "alleluia" refrain in harmony. Those alleluias should tax the resources of your organ and, if possible, a brass ensemble! Work up an animated pace. Many hymnals set Geyer's text to Charles V. Stanford's ENGELBERG (512), the tune Geyer intended for his text. ENGELBERG may be a bit more difficult –and although it's an older tune, it sounds more modern than WALLACE–but is another fine match for the text.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook