At this point you’re familiar with Rev. George O. Webster – the one-time pastor of Essex Community Church and prolific hymn composer. Now it is time to celebrate the local favorite among Webster’s hymns,”Essex-on-Champlain”.

If you have not had the opportunity to sing, hear or even read Rev. George O. Webster’s “Essex-on-Champlain” we have transcribed the hymn’s lyrics for you below. We have been made aware that a recording of the hymn was made at one point, and that some of our readers have even listened to the recording, but so far we’ve been unsuccessful at locating a copy of the recording. If you can help us out, please let us know.

Essex-on-Champlain, by George O. Webster

There’s a wonderland of beauty,
One that has ten thousand charms,
At Essex, old Essex-on-Champlain;
Its attractions grip and hold you
Like some giant lover’s arms,
Dear Essex, dear Essex-on-Champlain.
Then here’s three cheers for Essex,
The fairest spot on the Champlain shore,
Where the moonlight plays like fountains
O’er the crystal lake and mountains,
Dear, dear old Essex, Essex-on-Champlain.

All who know her sing the praises
Of our village by the lake,
Of Essex, old Essex-on-Champlain;
And, with each returning season,
Here their thirst for beauty slake,
At Essex, dear Essex-on-Champlain.
Then here’s three cheers for Essex,
The fairest spot on the Champlain shore,
Where the moonlight plays like fountains
O’er the crystal lake and mountains,
Dear, dear old Essex, Essex-on-Champlain.

Summer skies or wint’ry weather
Have their charms for those who care
For Essex, old Essex-on-Champlain;
And her friends are now a legion
You can find them everywhere,
Dear Essex, dear Essex-on-Champlain.
Then here’s three cheers for Essex,
The fairest spot on the Champlain shore,
Where the moonlight plays like fountains
O’er the crystal lake and mountains,
Dear, dear old Essex, Essex-on-Champlain.

So we sing a song for Essex,
‘Tis a song from out the heart
For Essex, old Essex-on-Champlain;
Wheresoe’er her name is spoken
Fondest mem’ries always start,
Of Essex, dear Essex-on-Champlain.
Then here’s three cheers for Essex,
The fairest spot on the Champlain shore,
Where the moonlight plays like fountains
O’er the crystal lake and mountains,
Dear, dear old Essex, Essex-on-Champlain.

New Recording of Essex-on-Champlain

Ever since I began reading about George O. Webster’s “Essex-on-Champlain” I’ve yearned to hear it performed. I hope that one day in the not too distant future it might be possible to make a recording, sung and performed on the Warren A. Cross memorial pipe organ at the Essex Community Church. And rumor has it that Rev. Webster’s great grandson, Thomas Palmer, a church organist and pianist with a direct-DNA link to the composer may presently be working on an audio recording of “Essex-on-Champlain”. Fingers crossed!

Related articles

• Reverend George Orlia Webster (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• George O. Webster’s Poetic Destiny (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)