Thomas Kelly (1769-1855), born in Lellyville, Ireland, was a fine poet and musician. He was known for giving away his substantial wealth to help the poor and to build churches. The son of a judge, he trained to be a lawyer. Convicted of his sin by The Life, the Walk, and the Triumph of Faith, treatises by William Romaine (1714-1795), he became an ordained minister in the Church of Ireland. Because of his powerful preaching and support of the rising evangelical movements, Kelly was banned from preaching in the Church of England and joined the ranks of “dissenting” ministers. Kelly, who was considered a good musician, wrote 765 hymns. This hymn text is based on Hebrews 2:9-10 which speaks of Christ’s glory and the message of grace that is available because of Christ’s suffering. Kelly may have been inspired by a poem composed by John Bunyan in the poetic collection One Thing is Needful, or Serious Meditations upon the Four Last Things, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell (1664)¹. Included below is a choral version and a modern retake – enjoy!

The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor’s brow.

The highest place that heav’n affords
is His, is His by right,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heav’n’s eternal Light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom He manifests His love,
and grants His name to know.

To them the cross with all its shame,
with all its grace, is giv’n,
their name, an everlasting name,
their joy, the joy of heav’n.

They suffer with their Lord below,
they reign with Him above,
their profit and their joy to know
the myst’ry of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
tho’ shame and death to Him:
His people’s hope, His people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.

¹umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-the-head-that-once-was-crowned-with-thorns