Originally sung in Latin, Adestes Fideles, this famous hymn became popular after the English translation, made in 1841 by Frederick Oakeley. The author of the music is unknown, but has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (1711–1786), John Reading (1645–1692) and King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656), with the earliest manuscript of the hymn bearing his name, located in the library of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa. An original manuscript of the oldest known version, dating from 1751, is held by Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. Few hymns are so stirring.
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