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LITTLE BROWN CHURCH IN THE VALE |
Hear Official Song? Click here |
If you clicked on the music, the song that should be playing in the background is "Little Brown Church In the Vale." This song was adopted by the St. Bridget Historical Society as their "Official St. Bridget Song."
A funny story about this song: A lady who often came to our St. Bridget Day Celebrations, when we use this song with OUR LYRICS, heard the real song "Little Brown Church In the Vale" on her radio. She never knew it even existed, so she was shocked to hear the song on the radio. She called the wife of one of our Historical Society Officers upset that SOMEONE stole our song and changed the lyrics. The Officer's wife had to confess that it was US who borrowed their tune and put our words to it.
We hope you enjoy the origins of our " borrowed" song.
History of song: Little Brown Church in the Vale
Dr. William S. Pitts (1830-1918)
was born in Orleans County, New York. As a young man, he taught
school in rural Rock County, Wisconsin. He later became a
doctor, and practiced in Fredericksburg, Iowa, for over 40 years. He is
buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg.
Here is his story about the origin of the song:
One bright afternoon of a day in June 1857, I first set foot in old Bradford, Iowa, coming by stage from McGregor. My home was in Wisconsin. The spot where the " Little Brown Church" now stands was a setting of rare beauty. There was no church there but the spot was there waiting for it. When back in my home I wrote the song "The Little Brown Church in the Vale." I put the manuscript away. In the spring of 1862 I returned to Iowa and settled at Fredericksburg...
In the years of 1859 and 1860 the good people of Bradford were
determined to build a church...By the early winter of 1864 the
building was ready for dedication. While I was holding the
singing school, near its close in the spring, the class went one
evening to the church. It was not then seated, but rude seats
were improvised. My manuscript of the song I had brought with me
from Wisconsin. It never been sung before by anyone but myself.
I sang it there. Soon afterwards I took the manuscript to
Chicago, where it was published by H. M. Higgins. It won a
speedy recognition locally and with the years won its way into
the hearts of the people of the world.
Soon after its publication the church at Bradford, which had been painted brown (for want of money to buy better paint, some say), became known as "The Little Brown Church in the Vale." My hope is that it will stand for a thousand years and call the old man and his descendants to worship.
| Original Lyrics: | St. Bridget Version: |
| There's a church in the valley by the wildwood,
No lovelier spot in the dale; No place is so dear to my childhood, As the little brown church in the vale. |
There's a St. Bridget Church in the Country
No lovelier place on a hill. No spot is so dear to my childhood, As this St. Bridget Church on a hill. |
| Refrain:
Come to the church in the wildwood, Oh, come to the church in the dale, No spot is so dear to my childhood, As the little brown church in the vale. |
Refrain:
Oh Come Come Come Come Come to the Church in the Country, Oh Come to the Church on the hill No spot is so dear to our childhood As this little country Church on a hill. |
| How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell; Its tones so sweetly are calling, Oh, come to the church in the vale. |
How sweet on a bright Sabbath morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell; It's tones so sweetly are calling. Oh come to the church on the hill. |
| Refrain: | Refrain: |
| There, close by the church in the valley,
Lies one that I loved so well; She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, 'neath the willow, Disturb not her rest in the vale. |
As we wander today with our families,
We remember the days of yesterday, Let us gather and worship together, At this St. Bridget Church so dear. |
| Refrain: | Refrain: |
| There, close by the side of that loved one,
To the trees where the wild flowers bloom, When the farewell hymn shall be chanted I shall rest by her side in the tomb. |
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| Refrain: | |
| From the church in the valley by the wildwood,
When day fades away into night, I would fain from this spot of my childhood Wing my way to the mansions of light. |
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| Refrain: |
