One of the most effective and simple costume changes is to put on a hat. When you walk off stage and return wearing a top hat, you are suddenly a different person. A “man of many hats” is someone who can be a different person in different contexts or crowds. This hymn declares that we are to crown our Lord with many crowns, but this does not mean that Jesus is a “man of many hats.” Christ was not simply a prophet, He was not simply the carpenter’s son, and He was not simply human, nor simply divine. Rather, this call to “crown him with many crowns” is a simple and yet profound declaration that Christ is many things, and everything. He is Lord of all, to be crowned for many things that all add up to Him being Savior of the world. Each crown represents a different aspect of who Christ is – Lord of life, Lord of love, Lord of years, Lord of heaven, the Lamb upon the throne. Christ is King, Servant, Lamb, Shepherd, and we celebrate this all-encompassing, paradoxical nature of our Savior by crowning Him the Lord of all.

Text:

The original text was written by Matthew Bridges, and later revised in his second edition of Hymns of the Heart, published in 1851. Another text was written by Godfrey Thring, who wrote, “The greater part of this hymn was originally written at the request of the Reverend H. W. Hutton, to supply the place of some of the stanzas in Matthew Bridges’ well-known hymn, of which he and others did not approve; it was afterwards thought better to rewrite the whole, so that the two hymns might be kept entirely distinct” (Lutheran Hymnal Handbook). Thring’s original second verse is now commonly paired with Bridges’ original stanzas.

There are a great number of variations of this hymn text. Almost no two hymnals include the exact same arrangement of phrases or number/order of verses. It’s difficult even to say what the most common verses are, so simply be aware that texts differ and make sure to double check the commonality if you’re using copies of the hymn from multiple sources.

Tune:

DIADEMATA was composed for this text by George J. Elvey in 1868. Albert Bailey writes, “This is another of those hymns that can be sung at different paces, but which don’t lend themselves to changes in volume. Rather, Crown Him…builds with pomp, the second half of each verse making you want to stand to sing” (The Gospel in Hymns, 76). Accompany this hymn with firm organ, piano, and trumpets, or with a driving drum beat and acoustic/electric guitar.

When/Why/How:

This hymn is perhaps most popular at Easter, but it would be fitting during any time of festivity or celebration of Christ’s rule, whether that be Easter, Ascension Day, or Christ the King Sunday. The hymn is a particularly fitting opening hymn of praise or processional. This hymn could be paired with “All Hail King Jesus,” “All Glory Laud and Honor,” or “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name,” just to name a few.

Choral Resource:

• Burkhardt, Michael. Festive Hymn Settings, Set 5 - (Times of Rebirth and New Life) (Congregation or Choir, Organ and Brass)
• Raney, John. Crown Him With Many Crowns (Choir, Piano, optional Brass, Organ, and Timpani)
• Shackley, Larry. Crown Him Redeemer, King (Choir, Congregation, Piano, optional Brass and Percussion)
• Proulx, Richard. Concerto on Crown Him With Many Crowns

Alternative Harmonization for Organ:

• Innes, John. Hymn Accompaniments for Organ
• Raney, Joel. Hymn Dazzlers, Set 2 (Organ or Piano)

Alternative Harmonization for Piano:

• Hopson, Hal H. The Creative Use of the Piano in Worship. Hope 8392

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

FlexScores are available in the Media section below.