Onward, Christian Soldiers.

£3,750 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Sabine Baring-Gould’s great hymn was written as a Whitsun processional during his first ministry, in a rough parish in Yorkshire. It was initially sung to a theme by Haydn (the Adagio from his 15th Symphony - it must have made for a slow procession) and only really rose to prominence with Arthur Sullivan’s tremendous and familiar setting “St. Gertrude” from 1871, when it achieved world-wide exposure as the favourite marching hymn of the Salvation Army. An attractive manuscript, trimmed slightly closely and unevenly at head and foot.

• Year: 1865

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