Zion stands by hills surrounded. T. Kelly. [The Security of the Church.] First published in the 2nd edition of his Hymns, &c, 1806, in 5 stanzas of 6 lines. (ed. 1853, No. 136). It is in common use in its full form, and also in centos, as:—
1. Every human tie may perish. This cento, beginning with stanza ii., is given in a few American collec¬tions.
2. On the Rock of Ages founded. In the 1874 Supplement to the New Congregational Hymn Book, No. 1216, is stanzas i., ii., iv., v. rewritten.
3. Sion stands with hills surrounded. This slightly altered text is in a few American hymnbooks.
Taking the original text and these centos together, it is found that the use of this hymn is somewhat extensive. It is based on Ps. cxxv., 2, and is a vigorous hymn on the Security of the Church of Christ.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Kelly, Thomas, B.A., son of Thomas Kelly, a Judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas, was born in Dublin, July 13, 1769, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was designed for the Bar, and entered the Temple, London, with that intention; but having undergone a very marked spiritual change he took Holy Orders in 1792. His earnest evangelical preaching in Dublin led Archbishop Fowler to inhibit him and his companion preacher, Rowland Hill, from preaching in the city. For some time he preached in two unconsecrated buildings in Dublin, Plunket Street, and the Bethesda, and then, having seceded from the Established Church, he erected places of worship at Athy, Portarlington, Wexford, &c, in which he conducted divine worship and preached. H… Go to person page >
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