ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL

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 1561

“All People That on Earth Do Dwell” – A Brief History


Origins (16th century)

“All People That on Earth Do Dwell” is one of the most enduring hymns in the English-speaking Christian world. Its text is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 100, written in 1561 by William Kethe (d. c. 1594), an English Protestant exile living in Geneva during the reign of Queen Mary I.


Kethe’s text first appeared in the Genevan Psalter, specifically in the English-language edition titled The Whole Booke of Psalmes (often called the Old Version). This psalter was intended to provide simple, scriptural songs for congregational worship, reflecting Reformation ideals that emphasized active participation by the whole assembly.


The Tune: “Old Hundredth”

The hymn is almost always sung to the tune “Old Hundredth.”


Composer: Louis Bourgeois (c. 1510–c. 1561)


First published: 1551 in the Genevan Psalter


“Old Hundredth” was originally composed for Psalm 134 but soon became associated with Psalm 100 because of its strong, dignified character and suitability for congregational singing. Over time, the pairing of Kethe’s text with Bourgeois’s tune became virtually inseparable.


Text and Theology

Kethe’s opening line,


All people that on earth do dwell,


captures the psalm’s universal call to worship. The hymn emphasizes:


God as Creator


Joyful praise


Thanksgiving


God’s eternal mercy and truth


Its language is intentionally straightforward, making it accessible and easily memorized by congregations.


Use in Worship

From the late 16th century onward, the hymn became:


A standard processional and opening hymn


Widely used at coronations, civic services, weddings, and national thanksgiving events


A staple in Anglican, Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Protestant traditions


Because of its association with praise and communal worship, it is often called the “English Doxology of the Psalms.”


Later Influence and Legacy


Included in countless hymnals worldwide


Often regarded as the most famous English metrical psalm


Continues to be sung today, over 450 years after its composition


Its longevity reflects both the strength of its biblical foundation and the power of congregational song shaped by the Reformation.


In summary:

“All People That on Earth Do Dwell” is a 16th-century metrical psalm by William Kethe, paired with Louis Bourgeois’s “Old Hundredth,” and remains a timeless expression of joyful, communal praise in Christian worship.

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