Dickson Chan plays 'Jerusalem the Golden' on the 1890 Hill & Son organ of Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church.

This hymn was translated from a lengthy poem 'De Contemptu Mundi' (The Contemptible World) written by monk Bernard of Cluny around 1145.

The initial portion of the poem, which focused on the glories of heaven, was published in 1849. John Mason Neale (1818-1866) published a translation in 1851 and this revised version in 1858:

Jerusalem the golden,
with milk and honey blessed,
beneath thy contemplation
sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, oh, I know not,
what joys await us there;
what radiancy of glory,
what bliss beyond compare.

They stand, those halls of Zion,
all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel,
and all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in them,
the daylight is serene;
the pastures of the blessed
are decked in glorious sheen.

There is the throne of David,
and there, from care released,
the shout of them that triumph,
the song of them that feast;
and they who with their Leader
have conquered in the fight,
forever and forever
are clad in robes of white.

O sweet and blessed country,
the home of God's elect;
O dear and future vision,
that eager hearts expect:
even now by faith we see thee,
even here thy walls discern;
to thee our thoughts are kindled;
for thee our spirits yearn.

The tune was composed by Scottish musician, composer and translator Alexander Ewing (1830-1895) and published as a tune for Neale's hymn 'For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country.' Subsequently, the tune was submitted to th editor of 'Hymns, Ancient and Modern' and it appeared there in 1861 as the tune for 'Jerusalem the Golden.'

A history and specification of the organ can be found at:

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The recording was made on 29 September 2023.

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