The Heavenly Jerusalem (O Mother Dear, Jerusalem)

“The Heavenly Jerusalem,” commonly known by its opening line “O Mother Dear, Jerusalem,” was written in 1801 by Joseph Bromehead, an English clergyman who adapted and expanded an earlier medieval poem that celebrated the hope of the eternal city of God. Bromehead reshaped the text into a devotional hymn that captures the Christian longing for heaven, presenting a vivid and heartfelt picture of the New Jerusalem promised in Scripture.

The hymn reflects the vision found in Revelation 21:1 to 4, where the apostle John describes the new heaven and new earth, the holy city, and the promise that God will wipe away all tears. It also echoes Hebrews 11:10, which speaks of a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God, and Hebrews 12:22 to 23, which describes the heavenly Jerusalem as the gathering place of the redeemed. These passages give the hymn its tone of joyful expectation and steady hope.

Bromehead’s words guide believers to lift their eyes beyond the trials of the present world and to fix their hearts on the everlasting home prepared by God. The hymn highlights the glory, purity, and peace of the heavenly city. It also reflects the believer’s longing to join the saints above in perfect fellowship with Christ. Each stanza paints heaven as a place of rest, joy, and holiness where sorrow and sin cannot enter.

For generations, “O Mother Dear, Jerusalem” has been sung during times of reflection on heaven, funerals, memorial services, and worship gatherings focused on eternal hope. Its language stirs the imagination and strengthens the faith of those who wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise. The hymn reminds Christians that earthly suffering is temporary and that the glory to come is secure in Christ. Through its poetic vision of the heavenly city, the hymn encourages believers to persevere with courage and to live in joyful expectation of seeing the Lord face to face.