Sabine Baring-Gould composed lyrics to “Onward, Christian Soldiers” among other perennial Christian favorites

Sabine Baring-Gould

• Onward, Christian soldiers,
• Marching as to war,
• With the cross of Jesus
• Going on before.
• Christ, the royal Master,
• Leads against the foe;
• Forward into battle
• See His banners go!

• Onward, Christian soldiers,
• Marching as to war,
• With the Cross of Jesus
• Going on before.
• At the sign of triumph,
• Satan’s host doth flee;
• On then, Christian soldiers,
• On to victory!
• Hell’s foundations quiver
• At the shout of praise;
• Brothers, lift your voices,
• Loud your anthems raise.

• Like a mighty army
• Moves the Church of God;
• Brothers, we are treading
• Where the saints have trod.
• We are not divided,
• All one body we,
• One in hope, in doctrine,
• One in charity.

• What the saints established
• That I hold for true.
• What the saints believèd,
• That I believe too.
• Long as earth endureth,
• Men the faith will hold—
• Kingdoms, nations, empires,
• In destruction rolled.

– from “Onward, Christian Soldiers” by Sabine Baring-Gould

• Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was an Anglican priest best known for composing the lyrics to the enduring Christian hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers,” for which English composer Arthur Sullivan provided the music. A biographer, novelist and folk-song collector, Baring-Gould was a prolific writer, with more than 1,240 publications to his name. He is also known for composing the lyrics to another perennial Christian favorite, “Now the Day Is Over.”