All Things Bright and Beautiful: words for a funeral order of service
7 verses, 28 lines. Cecil Frances Alexander (died 1895). Out of copyright in the UK.
Put these words straight into an A5 order of service booklet.
Add to my order of serviceAll things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one:
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
The first verse is sung again as a refrain after each verse. The verse beginning "The rich man in his castle" is in the original but not in The English Hymnal (1906); remove it if your service leaves it out.
At a glance
| Verses | 7 |
|---|---|
| Lines | 28 |
| Words | 146 |
| Fits one A5 page at 11 pt | Yes, about 94% of the page |
| Fits one A5 page at 12.5 pt (larger print) | No, it runs onto 2 pages |
| Words | Cecil Frances Alexander (died 1895) |
| UK copyright in the words | Out of copyright The writer died more than 70 years ago. |
| Text taken from | All Things Bright and Beautiful on Wikisource |
Hymn books differ in small ways: a word here, a comma there, sometimes a verse left out. Check these words against the hymn book or sheet your organist will use, and edit them in the builder if they differ.
Questions
- Can I print the words of All Things Bright and Beautiful in a funeral order of service in the UK?
- The words are by Cecil Frances Alexander, who died in 1895. UK copyright in a writer's words lasts no longer than 70 years after the end of the year the writer died, so these words are out of copyright. This is information, not legal advice.
- How many verses does All Things Bright and Beautiful have?
- The version on this page has 7 verses and 28 lines (146 words).
- Does All Things Bright and Beautiful fit on one A5 page?
- At 11 point type on an A5 page with 14 mm margins: yes, it takes about 94% of the page. At 12.5 point: no, it runs onto 2 pages.
This page gives information, not legal advice. Facts were checked on 10 November 2026.