In Christ There Is No East or West

Author: John Oxenham (1852–1941)
Composer: Alexander R. Reinagle (1799–1877)
Tune Name: St. Peter
Meter: CM (86.86)
Scripture Reference: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:28 (KJV)

The hymn "In Christ There is No East or West" was originally written by John Oxenham as part of a dramatic script for a major missionary exhibition held in London in 1908. Sponsored by the London Missionary Society and titled The Orient in London, the exhibition attracted an estimated 250,000 attendees. Oxenham was responsible for writing the entire text of the presentation, which went on to be performed in both England and the United States from 1908 to 1914.

Born William Arthur Dunkerley on November 12, 1852, in Manchester, England, Oxenham was a man of diverse talents. In business, he managed a successful wholesale grocery enterprise with branches in both Europe and America. In literature, he wrote fiction under the name Julian Ross and adopted the pen name John Oxenham—taken from the title of a book, Westward Ho!, gifted to him by a Sunday school teacher—for his poetry and hymns. Over the course of his life, Oxenham authored more than forty novels and twenty volumes of verse and prose. During World War I, his collection Hymns for the Men at the Front sold an astonishing eight million copies. Upon his passing, it was discovered that he had published a total of sixty-two books under various pseudonyms. According to British Who’s Who, Oxenham began writing as a reprieve from his business endeavors and ultimately found it to be a more fulfilling pursuit. Despite his professional obligations, he remained a deeply committed layman within the Congregational Church.

The text of "In Christ There is No East or West" was first published in 1913 in Oxenham’s book Bees in Amber, which he self-published and of which 285,000 copies were sold. The hymn was first introduced to American congregations through H. Augustine Smith’s Hymns of the Living Age, published in 1925.

The tune St. Peter, composed by Alexander Robert Reinagle, is named after St. Peter’s-in-the-East Church in Oxford, England, where Reinagle served as organist for over three decades. The melody first appeared in 1836 in his collection Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pianoforte, originally accompanying Psalm 118. Reinagle’s music, marked by a distinct and memorable quality, has remained beloved by Christians across cultures and generations.

A poignant illustration of the hymn’s power occurred during World War II, involving two ships—one carrying Japanese detainees and the other, American detainees—anchored side by side, awaiting repatriation. For a full day, the two groups stood silently on their respective decks, divided by nationality and war. Suddenly, someone began singing "In Christ There is No East or West." Another voice joined in from the opposite ship. Gradually, voices from both sides rose in harmony as enemies turned into a choir, united in worship. In that moment, the truth of Galatians 3:28 came alive: in Christ, all are truly one.

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” This hymn continues to exemplify that truth—breaking down barriers, fostering unity, and reminding us of the eternal bond shared by all who are in Christ.