Alfred Bell was born in Silton, UK in 1832. He was a stained glass artist and craftsman, as well as a painter. He worked under Sir George Gilbert Scott, a prominent church architect before joining with John Richard Clayton to form the firm Clayton & Bell. His translation "Holy night, peaceful night" was set to music by Joseph Barnby and published in 1869 in Barnby's Original Tunes to Popular Hymns (Vol 1, London: Novello and Company.
Dianne Shapiro from Hymns and Carols of Christmas website (hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com) (accessed 3/21/2021) Go to person page >