Angels from the Realms of Glory Lyrics James Montgomery, 1816
4 verses and a refrain, sung to Regent Square (8.7.8.7.8.7), public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth,
Ye, who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
Verse 2. Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant-Light;
Verse 3. Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen his natal star;
Verse 4. Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear;
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from New Baptist Hymnal (1926). They were published in 1816, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind Angels from the Realms of Glory
James Montgomery, a Moravian poet and newspaper editor in Sheffield, England, first printed this hymn in his paper, the Iris, on Christmas Eve 1816. It carried the title "The Nativity" and was signed J.M. That printing had five stanzas of six lines.
Montgomery reprinted it unchanged in a Sheffield hymnal in 1819. In The Christian Psalmist (1825) it became "Good tidings of great joy to all people" with three words changed. His Original Hymns (1853) carries the version scholars treat as authorized. Many hymnals shorten it, and J. R. Watson called the opening lines of the fifth stanza severe.
The hymn moves through the nativity story in Luke 2, the magi in Matthew 2, and Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:25-38. It also reaches back to Job 38:7, Haggai 2:7, Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 7:14.
Churches in the United States and Canada usually sing it to REGENT SQUARE, which Henry Smart wrote for the English Presbyterian Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship in 1866. Hymnary.org lists the tune as 1867 on one page and 1866 for its first printing. The Baptist Praise Book first printed the tune with this text in 1871. British churches usually sing it to IRIS, adapted from a French carol. Montgomery wrote about 400 hymns, and this one is among his best known.
James Montgomery
1771-11-04 to 1854-04-30
James Montgomery was born in Irvine, Scotland, the son of a Moravian minister. He moved to Sheffield in 1792 and took over a newspaper in 1794, which he renamed the Sheffield Iris and edited for about thirty-one years. Authorities jailed him twice in the 1790s over items he printed. He supported foreign missions and the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the crown gave him a pension in 1833. He published roughly 400 hymns, including Angels from the Realms of Glory and Go to Dark Gethsemane. He died in Sheffield.
Henry Smart
1813 to 1879
Henry Smart was born in Marylebone, London. He left a legal career for music and was largely self-taught. He served as organist at St. Luke's, Old Street, and at St. Pancras, and he became known for improvising and for leading congregational singing. He lost his sight at fifty-two and kept playing the organ from memory. He edited the Choralebook, the English Presbyterian Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship and the Scottish Presbyterian Hymnal. His best known tune is REGENT SQUARE. He died in Hampstead.
- Hymnology Archive, Angels, from the realms of glory , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Cyber Hymnal 44, Angels from the realms of glory , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, James Montgomery , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Henry T. Smart , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Angels from the Realms of Glory
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Luke 2:8-20
- Matthew 2:1-12
- Luke 2:25-38
- Isaiah 7:14
- Haggai 2:7
- Malachi 3:1
Angels from the Realms of Glory videos
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Angels From The Realms Of Glory • Congregational Daniel Baptist, Congregation
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Angels, from the Realms of Glory | David Archuleta and The Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Choir
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Angels from the Realms of Glory 🎶 King’s College Choir Cambridge (2011) arr. Jacques #christmas spiritdei, Choir
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Angels From The Realms Of Glory - A Cappella Hymn A Cappella Hymns, A cappella
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Angels from the Realms of Glory - Christmas piano instrumental Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Angels From The Realms Of Glory by Reawaken (Acoustic Christmas Hymn) Reawaken Hymns, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Downloads, printing and slides
Sheet music files
- Sheet music PDF 96 KB. Words and all four parts, ready to print.
- Lead sheet PDF 85 KB. Melody, words and chord symbols for piano or guitar.
- MusicXML score XML 57 KB. Opens in MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius and Dorico to change the key or print parts.
- MIDI, all parts MIDI 2 KB. Plays the four-part harmony in any MIDI player or notation app.
- MIDI, melody only MIDI 1 KB. The tune alone, for learning it.
Practice tracks for each voice part, as MIDI: Alto , Tenor , Bass .
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in B♭.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Angels from the Realms of Glory?
James Montgomery wrote it. He first printed it in his Sheffield newspaper, the Iris, on Christmas Eve 1816.
What tune is Angels from the Realms of Glory sung to?
In the United States it is usually REGENT SQUARE by Henry Smart, from 1866. British churches usually sing it to IRIS, adapted from the French carol Angels We Have Heard on High.
What Bible passages does Angels from the Realms of Glory draw on?
The Hymnology Archive lists Luke 2:8-20 for the shepherds and Matthew 2 for the magi. It also lists Luke 2:25-38, Job 38:7, Isaiah 7:14, Haggai 2:7 and Malachi 3:1.
Is Angels from the Realms of Glory in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. Montgomery first published them in 1816, and the REGENT SQUARE tune is from 1866.
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