This melody was first attributed to the 1701 English song “The Ballad of Captain Kidd”, thought it likely predates those words. The text “What Wondrous Love Is This” was first published with this tune in The Southern Harmony, a book of shape note hymns compiled by William Walker where the melody is identified as a popular old Southern tune. It is a modal tune.

See a list of other hymn themes here.

Videos:
Timothy Howard – Postlude on ‘Wondrous Love’ – Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Patrick A. Scott- First Station of the Cross (What Wondrous Love) – University Christian Church, Austin, Texas