This Is My Father’s World

This page includes a lyric video, history, sheet music, and other resources for the classic hymn “This Is My Father’s World.” Enjoy!

Enjoy this You Tube video, performed by Jadon Lavik, with lyrics for “This Is My Father’s World”:

History of “This Is My Father’s World”

Words by Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858-1901), Published in 1787

Maltbie was born in Syracuse, New York to a prominent family. He attended Syracuse University where he excelled as a student, an athlete, and a musician. According to Hymn Time:

“Tall, broad shouldered, and muscular, he was president of the baseball team, an expert pitcher, and a good swimmer. He played several musical instruments, directed the school orchestra, and played and composed for the organ. He was a singer and leader of the glee club. He could do impersonations, was clever at drawing, and had a knack with tools. He was also an avid fisherman. He might have become a professional musician had he not chosen the ministry.”¹

After graduation, Maltbie attended Auburn Theological Seminary. He was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church and took his first job as a pastor in Lockport, New York. Maltbie often began his days with an early morning walk and would say that he was going out “to see my Father’s world.” These walks are thought to have inspired his poem.

In 1886, Maltbie was called to a church in Baltimore, Maryland. He became a particular favorite of local college students, and with time, was asked to preach at colleges across the country. Hymn Time notes:

“[Maltbie] had a talent for presenting spiritual and ethical truths with freshness and effect. In doing this, he was aided by his agile mind, wide range of knowledge, dramatic ability, speech fluency, and magnetic personality.”²

After almost 14 years in Baltimore, Maltbie was asked to assume the pastorate of Henry Van Dyke at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Henry, a popular pastor and author (who wrote the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”), was retiring.

After serving for 18 months in his new position, Maltbie took a trip to the Holy Land. Sadly, he fell ill while traveling and died of brucellosis (a bacterial infection usually caused by ingesting unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat) in Naples, Italy.

During his lifetime, Maltbie did not publish any of his writing. However, after his death, his wife Catherine collected and published many of his works. “This Is My Father’s World” was contained in a small book titled, Thoughts for Everyday Living, 1901.³

Tune “Terra Beata” (A Traditional English Melody) arranged by Franklin Lawrence Sheppard (1852-1930), Published in 1915

Franklin Sheppard, a friend of Maltbie, arranged the tune “Terra Beata” (Latin for “Blessed Earth”) for Maltbie’s poem. Franklin said the tune was inspired by a traditional English melody that he learned from his mother as a boy.⁴ It was published in the Presbyterian Sunday school songbook Alleluia, 1915.

Franklin was born in Philadelphia in 1852. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with the highest honors before taking charge of his father’s manufacturing business. Despite his career obligations, Franklin managed to dedicate a good deal of time to ministry. Since he was a talented musician, Franklin served as a church organist and a music director. Eventually, he became President of the Presbyterian Board of Publications and helped to develop the Presbyterian Hymnal, 1911, as well as to edit the Sunday school songbook that included “This Is My Father’s World.”

Additional Resources for “This Is My Father’s World”:

Sheet Music (PDF Compliments of Hymnary.org)

Guitar Chords (Links to Ultimate Guitar)

Visit Hymnary.org or Hymn Time.com for more on this hymn.

See our Hymn of the Week page for a list of the hymns that are included on this site.

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¹ Hymn Time: “Maltbie Babcock.”
² Ibid.
³ Hustad, Donald P. Dictionary Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church. Hope Publishing Company, 1978, p. 40.
⁴ Ibid.