Henry Thomas Smart

Henry Thomas Smart was an English organist, composer, hymn-tune writer, and organ consultant born in London in 1813. The son of a professional musician and nephew of the conductor Sir George Smart, he was educated at Highgate School and initially prepared for a legal career before choosing music. He served as organist at Blackburn Parish Church, St. Philip's in Regent Street, St. Luke's in Old Street, and finally St. Pancras New Church in London. He also advised on important organ installations and was admired for improvisation and organ composition. Severe loss of sight marked his later years, yet he continued composing.

Smart wrote anthems, services, cantatas, part songs, organ music, and a large body of hymn tunes. His best-known congregational melodies include REGENT SQUARE, LANCASHIRE, PILGRIMS, and TRISAGION. REGENT SQUARE first appeared in Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship, published for the Presbyterian Church in England in 1866, and was named for Regent Square Church in London.

Smart did not compose REGENT SQUARE for Montgomery's Christmas hymn. The tune initially served other texts, including Horatius Bonar's doxological hymn, and the pairing with Angels from the Realms of Glory is documented in an American Baptist hymnal by 1871.