HYMN #53 What Child Is This is taken from a longer poem, The Manger Throne written c.1865. by William Chatterton Dix. He wrote the poem after reading gospel lessons describing the visits to the manger by the magi and the shepherds. The first two stanzas ask the questions, “What child is this?” and “Why lies he in such mean estate?” and the refrain answers, “This is Christ the King.” The wise-men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We respond in stanza three with the offering of our hearts. “Come, one and all, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone him…
…the babe, the son of Mary!”