O Little Town of Bethlehem (Tune: Forest Green - 4vv) [with lyrics for congregations]

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" was written by American bishop Phillips Brooks in 1868 for his Sunday School class.
The tune is 'Forest Green', an English folk tune associated with the ballad "The Ploughboy's Dream." The composer Ralph Vaughan Williams used it as a tune for 'O Little Town'.
It is performed here by the Christmas Chorus.
Video backgrounds by Iconikmg and Victor Salazar Ruiz from Pixabay.

[@chrishall62]

One of my favourite carols with a lovely traditional English tune

[@jackojee2503]

Without this carol during Christmas season, my Christmas would not be complete.🎹🎼

[@ChetValleyChurches]

😊

[@CynthiaM-st3um]

​@@ChetValleyChurches❤Danny boy by father ray

[@kylargraf6762]

I prefer this tune to St. Louis any day. Happy Early Advent, and God bless you, brothers and sisters!😊

[@jpr4212]

My favourite Xmas carol. Beautiful lyrics.

[@nelsonkawal6281]

AMAZINGLY TUNED TO SUIT THE COMPOSITIONED WORDINGS. I LOVE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. THANK YOU.

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Our pleasure, Nelson. 😊

[@nelsonkawal6281]

THANKS FOR ALL DETAILS. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[@nelsonkawal6281]

THANKS FOR ALL DETAILS. MERRY CHRIDTMAS

[@paulinewarren3623]

Love it and I love Jesus to Amen 🙏🏻

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Amen, Pauline. 🙏

[@FGH9G]

Always liked this version of the song better! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@ChetValleyChurches]

😊🙏

[@neilbarnett3046]

Some people seem surprised at the tune, called "Forest Green", although it is the most common version used in the UK and much of the English-speaking world. (must be true, I checked with Australia!) I had never heard the other tune "St Louis" until 3 minutes ago. I presume it is only common in the USA.

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Thanks for this, Neil. "O Little Town" was written by the American Episcopal priest Philip Brooks who asked his organist, Lewis Redner, to set it to music. It is possible that the tune's title, 'St Louis', was based on Lewis Redner's first name.

[@ridirih9807]

Amazon has a caroling book with both tunes. It has both Away in a Manger tunes as well. And yes, the US usually doesn’t know the Forest Green version: today is the first day I heard it. Very pretty as well!

[@Masihjeevan777]

This song my teacher took for Carol compition and I like it😊😃

[@pauls0416]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! :) I have NEVER heard that melody before for 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'. I like it! I also noticed the longer notes in the second stanza of each verse. Very unique! Thank you.

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Glad you like it. Surprisingly, that the only tune we know!

[@stevebrown3559]

This is the tune 'Forest Green' which was adapted by Ralph Vaughan-Williams from an old English ballad, and is the standard in the UK. The American version uses the tune 'St. Louis' which was written by Lewis Redner. Another carol that uses different tunes across the Atlantic is 'Away in a Manger'.

[@louisaelsie6489]

Have to admit this is still the best melody. The other is quite inferior!!

[@JamesWheeler-ts3ur]

​@@louisaelsie6489n n. Mo a nkomo open on 😅9o p

[@malijames9055]

Amazing for writing down .And our school Newbold Verdon Primary School are learning it for church and lovely choir

[@ChetValleyChurches]

You’re welcome 😊

[@hollyworld5606]

This is the song we have to sing in a school play

[@ChetValleyChurches]

😊

[@Tblaq]

I love this ♥️

[@andrewlittle536]

Can we use a couple of your songs for our Filling Station Zoom meeting, please. They are such a great resource - Well done!

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Andrew, yes of course you can. We love it when people use them.

[@amberfenemer4200]

My school uses this one too :)

[@colingznetworkplus4618]

The silent stars go dude!

[@chadsnayders1927]

Good day. May I please use some of your beautiful Carols in our Christmas services?

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Please do, Chad. We are always pleased when people use our videos for worship. Please note, though, that we don't normally hold the copyright i the performances themselves so some sort of copyright licence, such as CCLI, would be good to have.

[@TalkingBulllproductions]

Hi, would you mind if I used any of these hymns for projects on my KZbin channel?

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Hi Elliot, we are very happy for you to use any of our videos. We don't normally have the cyright in the performances themselves but as long as you are not trying to monetise them that shouldn't be a problem. 😊

[@TalkingBulllproductions]

@@ChetValleyChurches I do intend to make money off my content eventually but I only wanted to use this as a backing track. would that still be alright?

[@ChetValleyChurches]

We think you might have a problem, Elliot. The music is copyright. We are allowed to use it because we have not monetised our channel (we are a Christian church, and trying to monetise worship is something which Jesus got quite upset about). So we wish you all the best but fear that you may run into difficulties ahead. We hope you don't but we certanly can't offer any guarantees. God bless. 😊🙏

[@TalkingBulllproductions]

@@ChetValleyChurches I'm a devout Christian too! ✝ I was not intending to as you put it, "monetise worship" {I'm a comedian/ ventriloquist} If you think I might get in trouble for using this music I'm not going to take any chances! I wish you all the best and thank you for your time. 😁 {I really enjoy the Hymns!}🙏

[@marywatts2367]

Please can we use some of your carols for our Candlelight Service at Tabernacle Penclawdd Wales

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Yes, please do. We are always pleased when people use our movies.

[@oldbaldandtalented]

Please can we use this for our service?

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Yes, please do. We love it when people use any of our hymns and songs. Blessings to you.

[@oldbaldandtalented]

Thank you, much appreciated. God bless you

[@ChetValleyChurches]

😄

[@caisterparishchurches3259]

With your kind permission I'd like to use your lyrics video for our online carol service in Caister - thank you!

[@ChetValleyChurches]

Yes, of course, David. All our hymns and songs are there to be used as a resource for the church.

[@rebeccawise7062]

Even

[@colingznetworkplus4618]

Train horn in the background!