Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#352

352. That Boy-Child of Mary

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Hope Publishing: one copy

In order to use resources from the Hope Publishing Company, you must reside in the United States or Canada. Hope Publishing Company owns or administers the contents in these territories.
You may download one copy of this selection for your own personal use. To make any further copies or to perform the work you must get permission from Hope Publishing Company or belong to and report the copying activity to CCLI, LicenSing or OneLicense.net. By selecting "I Agree" you are verifying that you reside in the U.S. or Canada and will only legally use this selection.

Text Information

• First Line: What shall we call him
• Title: That Boy-Child of Mary
• Author: Tom Colvin (1967)
• Refrain First Line: That boy-child of Mary
• Meter: irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Topic: Biblical Names & Places: Bethlehem; Biblical Names & Places: Mary; Commitment & Dedication; Songs for Children: Hymns; Christmas; Salvation
• Copyright: Text and music © 1969, Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by permission

Tune Information

• Name: BLANTYRE
• Adapter: Tom Colvin (1967)
• Meter: irregular
• Key: F Major
• Source: Malawi melody
• Copyright: Text and music © 1969, Hope Publishing Co. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Matt. 1:21, 23

African missionary Thomas S. Colvin (b. Glasgow, Scotland, 1925) wrote this text in 1967 for use at St. Michael's Cathedral in Blantyre, Malawi. In his missionary work Colvin learned that the name given to a child often expresses hopes for the child as well as events associated with his or her birth. The significance of Christ's birth and name, expressed in this text, is patterned after that African practice.

Stanza 1 asks about the identity of Jesus; stanzas 2-4 explain who Jesus is; and stanza 5 offers our praise and service to "that boy-child of Mary." The simple and direct text is for God's children of all ages.

Colvin was trained as an engineer and worked in that profession in Burma and Singapore from 1945 to 1948. After studying theology at Trinity College, Glasgow University, he was ordained in the Church of Scotland in 1954. He served as missionary in Nyasaland (now Malawi) from 1954 to 1958, in Ghana from 1958 to 1964, and again in Nyasaland from 1964 to 1974. His work there included preaching, education, and community development. After completing his missionary work, Colvin became a minister in the United Reformed Church of England and served an inner-city church in London. He returned to Africa in 1984 as a development consultant to the Zimbabwe Christian Council. He is now retired in Edinburgh. Colvin's writings include Christ's Work in Free Africa (1964) and three collections of hymns, many written in collaboration with African Christians–Free to Serve (1966), Leap My Soul (1976), and Fill Us with Your Love (1983).

Liturgical Use:
Christmas season; church school programs and carol worship services of various kinds.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Colvin adapted a traditional Malawian melody for this text and named the tune for the Blantyre Synod in Malawi. BLANTRYE is in a call-and-response form; therefore, it is best to alternate between soloists or small choir and the entire group or congregation. Try having a soloist sing stanza 1, the choir sing in parts on stanzas 2-4 (adjusting the hymnal harmonization, or using a published arrangement), and the entire group sing stanza 5 as well as the refrain. Another possibility would be to have young children gather to sing the refrain and the whole congregation sing the stanzas. Use very light accompaniment (if any at all), but support the tune with improvised percussion patterns: drums, tambourines, shakers, or clapping; Orff xylophones would also work well. This hymn is another one of those perpetual energy songs with no breaks between the refrain and the stanzas.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook