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“This Is Christ the King (What Child Is This)” emerges from the richest kind of worship tradition – where timeless truth meets fresh expression. What started in a Victorian sickbed has journeyed through centuries to find voice in a new melody by Don Chapman that speaks to modern hearts. Here’s how this reimagined Christmas carol can transform your December worship sets.
Hymn History: What Child Is This
William Chatterton Dix wasn’t heading for ministry or missions – he was perfectly content managing insurance policies in Glasgow. But God had other plans. In 1865, a severe illness confined this businessman to his bed, where depression and questions about purpose crept in. Yet right there, in that place of weakness, something beautiful emerged. During his recovery, Dix experienced a profound spiritual awakening that poured out into poetry. Rather than dramatic life changes, he simply returned to his insurance office with a new purpose: using his gift of words to worship God right where he was planted. Those quiet moments of reflection birthed one of Christianity’s most beloved Christmas carols, proving once again that God’s greatest works often start in the most ordinary places.
Call to Worship
Need help finding the right words to introduce a hymn? Use this sample “Call to Worship” as a starting point, or let it inspire you to create your a heartfelt invitation to praise in your own words!
Picture the scene that night: Shepherds in their fields, Angels parting heaven’s curtain, and there in a humble manger, a baby who would change everything. The same question that echoed through Bethlehem’s streets still rings in our hearts today: “What Child is this?”
For centuries, believers have pondered this miracle – how the King of Kings chose to enter our world as a helpless infant. Today, as we sing these timeless words with a fresh melody, may we join that endless chorus of worship. For this is no ordinary child – This is Christ the King!
Lead with Confidence
Here’s a secret about this arrangement: its power lies not in its complexity, but in its ability to bridge worlds. The melody feels right at home alongside your modern worship songs while carrying all the theological weight of its Victorian roots. Try starting with a simple piano introduction, letting the familiar words wash over your congregation in this new setting. Watch what happens when you hit that bridge – it’s designed to lift your people to those mountaintop moments of revelation about who this Child really is.
Blending Suggestions
Try using This Is Christ the King in your worship set with these songs that fit thematically:
- He Shall Reign Forevermore” by Chris Tomlin: Its theme of Christ’s eternal kingship creates a perfect setup for exploring who this Child really is. The modern musical styles blend seamlessly.
- King of Kings by Hillsong Worship: Take your congregation on a journey from the manger to the throne. The theological progression feels natural and powerful.
- Here I Am To Worship by Tim Hughes – The themes of light coming into darkness and our response to Christ’s humility pair perfectly with the second verse of “What Child Is This?” The contemplative nature of both songs allows for deep moments of reflection.
For Christmas Eve, consider stripping it down to piano, acoustic guitar, and perhaps a cello. There’s something about that combination that captures both the intimacy of the manger and the majesty of the moment. Let the bridge build organically – it’s designed to lift your congregation to those powerful moments of revelation about who this Child really is.
Remember, you’re not just teaching another Christmas song – you’re inviting your people into a story that stretches from a Victorian sickbed to their own hearts today. Every time you lead this song, you’re helping bridge the gap between our rich heritage and our contemporary expression of worship.
Want to make this arrangement truly soar? Pay attention to the dynamic build as the song progresses. Let that first “This is Christ the King” land with all the weight it deserves. After all, that’s the answer to the question every heart is asking: “What Child is this?”