He's gone, see where his body lay

Author: Thomas Kelly

Kelly, Thomas, B.A., son of Thomas Kelly, a Judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas, was born in Dublin, July 13, 1769, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was designed for the Bar, and entered the Temple, London, with that intention; but having undergone a very marked spiritual change he took Holy Orders in 1792. His earnest evangelical preaching in Dublin led Archbishop Fowler to inhibit him and his companion preacher, Rowland Hill, from preaching in the city. For some time he preached in two unconsecrated buildings in Dublin, Plunket Street, and the Bethesda, and then, having seceded from the Established Church, he erected places of worship at Athy, Portarlington, Wexford, &c, in which he conducted divine worship and preached. H… Go to person page >

He's gone! see where His body lay. T. Kelly. [Easter.] Published in the first edition of his Hymns, &c, 1804, in 6 stanzas of 6 lines (edition 1853, No. 32), and is based on St. Matt. xxviii. 6. In addition to the original, two altered forms of the text are in common use:—
1. "0 joyful sound! 0 glorious hour." This alteration of stanzas ii.-iv. appeared in Hall's Mitre Hymn Book, 1836. Its use is limited. 2. "Come, see the place where Jesus lay. And hear angelic voices say." This version of the text was made by the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861, and is in extensive use.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)