There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood,

No lovelier spot in the dale;

No place is so dear to my childhood,

As the little brown church in the vale.

Refrain:

Come to the church in the wildwood,

Oh, come to the church in the dale,

No spot is so dear to my childhood,

As the little brown church in the vale.

How sweet on a clear, Sabbath morning,

To list to the clear ringing bell;

Its tones so sweetly are calling,

Oh, come to the church in the vale.

There, close by the church in the valley,

Lies one that I loved so well;

She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, ’neath the willow,

Disturb not her rest in the vale.

There, close by the side of that loved one,

To trees where the wild flowers bloom,

When the farewell hymn shall be chanted

I shall rest by her side in the tomb.

From the church in the valley by the wildwood,

When day fades away into night,

I would fain from this spot of my childhood

Wing my way to the mansions of light.

see also The Church in the Wildwood