Which Christmas carol was first printed in the Sheffield Iris on Christmas Eve 1816?

“Angels from the Realms of Glory” was first printed in the Sheffield Iris on Christmas Eve 1816. It appeared under the title “The Nativity,” before later hymn publications established the title now familiar to singers.

The carol was written by James Montgomery, a Scottish poet, hymnwriter, and editor associated with Sheffield. Its text invites angels, shepherds, sages, and saints to “come and worship,” giving the song a sequence of biblical and devotional scenes centered on Christ’s birth.

Montgomery’s words have been paired with several tunes. In the United States, “Regent Square,” by Henry Smart, is especially common; in Britain, the carol has also been sung to the French-derived melody associated with “Angels We Have Heard on High.” That variety can cause confusion when listeners identify a carol by its tune rather than its words.