William Hiley Bathurst

William Hiley Bathurst
Short Name: William Hiley Bathurst
Full Name: Bathurst, William Hiley, 1796-1877
Birth Year: 1796
Death Year: 1877

Bathurst, William Hiley , M.A., son of the Rt. Hon. Charles Bragge (afterwards Bathurst) some time M.P. for Bristol, born at Clevedale, near Bristol, Aug. 28, 1796, and educated at Winchester, and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1818. From 1820 to 1852 he held the Rectory of Barwick-in-Elmet, near Leeds. Resigning the Rectory in the latter year, through his inability to reconcile his doctrinal views with the Book of Common Prayer, he retired into private life, and died at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, Nov. 25, 1877. His works include, The Georgics of Virgil: Translated by W. H. B., 1849; Metrical Musings; or, Thoughts on Sacred Subjects in Verse, 1849; and Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use, 1831 (2nd ed. 1842). This last contains 141 versions of Psalms, and 206 hymns. All the latter, and many of the former are original. Of his hymns, those in most extensive use are, "Hark! the distant isles proclaim," "Holy Spirit from on high,” "Jesus, Thy Church with longing eyes,” "Eternal Spirit, by whose power," "O for a faith that will not shrink” and “O Saviour, may we never rest." In addition to these and a few others (all of which are annotated under their first lines), the following are in common use, but mainly in America:—
1. Before Thy cross, my dying Lord. Faith.
2. Before Thy mercy-seat, O Lord. Holy Scriptures.
3. Behold what unspeakable love. Heaven.
4. Does the Lord of Glory speak? Holy Scripture.
5. Ere the world with light invested. Holy Spirit.
6. Except the Lord our labours bless. Ps. cxxvii.
1. Full of weakness and of sin. The Creator Spirit desired.
8. Glory to the Almighty Father. Praise.
9. Holy Lord, our hearts prepare. Preparation for Prayer.
10. Holy Spirit from on high. Holy Spirit's direction implored.
11. How blest are they who feel the weight. Repentance.
12. How strange that souls whom Jesus feeds. Conflict.
13. How sweet it is in early youth. Youthful Piety.
14. How sweet the hour of closing day. Death.
15. Led by a Father's gentle hand. Communion of Saints
16. Lord, a better heart bestow. Lent.
17. Lord, bid the light arise. To the Holy Spirit.
18. Lord, shed Thy glory as of old. Whitsuntide.
19. Lord, what blessed consolation. Safety of the Church.
20. Lord, when our offerings we present. Offertory.
21. 0 for a beam of heavenly light. Lent.
22. 0 for that flame of living tire. Holy Spirit.
23. 0 give thanks unto the Lord. Ps. cv.
24. Shepherd of Israel, from above. On behalf of Children.
25. This day the Lord hath called His own. Sunday.
26. When the world my heart is rending. Heaven.
27. Why search ye in the narrow tomb? Ascension.
28. Ye servants of the living God. Praise.
All these hymns were given in his Psalms & Hymns , &c, 1831 (Preface dated November 15th, 1830), and repeated, without alteration, in the 2nd ed., 1842. They are characterized by simplicity of language, and directness of aim; but do not in any instance rise above the ordinary level of passable hymn-writing. In some American collections Bathurst's name is contracted to "Bath," and this is regarded either as a complete surname or as a Bath Collection. The contraction was given by Bickersteth in his Christian Psalmody, 1833.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Bathurst, William H., p. 117, ii. Additional hymns from his Psalms & Hymns, 1831, are in common use as follows:—
1. Great God, when I approach Thy throne. Redemption.
2. How bright a day was that which saw. The First Sabbath.
3. How frail and fallible I am. Jesus Unchangeable.
4. In Jesus' name with one accord. Divine Worship.
5. Lord, I claim Thee for my own. Ps. lxiii.
6. Lord shew Thy glory as of old. This is not "Lord shed Thy glory, &c," as stated at p. 118, i., 18.
7. Lord, when I lift my voice to Thee. Ps. ci.
8. O Lord, defend us as of old. Ps. lxxiv.
9. O Lord, how long shall heathens hold. Ps. lxxix.
10. 0 Lord, look down with pitying eye. Intercession for the Jews. Begins with st. iv. of “0 how is Zion's glory gone."
11. Praise God, O my soul. Ps. cxlvi.
12. Saviour, at Thy feet we bow. United Prayer.
13. 'Tis past, that agonizing hour. Ascension.
14. The Lord look'd all around. Universal Corruption.
15. To the Source of every blessing. Praise to the Father.
16. What can relieve the troubled soul? Christ the Comforter.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Wikipedia Biography

William H. Bathurst (28 August 1796 – 25 November 1877) was an Anglican clergyman and hymnist. William Hiley Bathurst was the son of the Rt. Hon. Charles Bragge. He was born at Cleve Dale, Mangotsfield, near Bristol on 28 August 1796. His mother was Charlotte Addington and his maternal grandmother's was Hiley, thus his middle name. He married Mary Anne Rhodes, in September 1829 and had 4 children. His grave is in Lafayette Cemetery in New Orleans.

Texts by William Hiley Bathurst (67)AsAuthority LanguagesInstancessort descending
How blessed the righteous when he diesWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English1
How blest are they whose hearts are pureW. H. Bathurst, 1796-1877 (Author)English1
¡Oh! tenga yo la ardiente feWilliam H. Bathurst (1796-1877) (Author)Spanish1
Why buy we that which is not breadWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)1
Why search ye in the narrow tombWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)1
A beam from heaven is sentWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
Almejo a fé que forte é no mundo tentadorWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)Portuguese2
Call it not death, it is but lifeWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
Danos el fuego que ardíoWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)Spanish2
Darkness long hath veiled the nationsWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Ere the world, with light investedWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
Hail, brightest, happiest mornWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
How long will ye despise My name?William Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
How sweet it is in early youthWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
How vainly strive ungodly foesWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
In pity to a dying worldWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Is there a world of bitter woeWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
குன்றிப்போகா விஸ்வாசமே (Kuṉṟippōkā visvācamē)William Hiley Bathurst (Author)Tamil2
Lord, let thy saving mercy healWm. Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
Lord, when wilt Thou extend Thy swayWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
O att den elden lyste klarWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)Swedish2
O for a beam of heavenly lightWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
O havde jeg saa sterk en troWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)Norwegian2
O how is Zion's glory goneWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)2
O Tro, som skr'kkes ej, om denWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)Danish2
Por una fe capaz, SeñorWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)Spanish2
Savior, let Thy Gospel lightWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Spirit of life, thine influence shedWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)2
The long expected hour draws nearWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
The Lord shall come; at that great dayWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
The Savior comes; O happiest soundWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
When shall thy name be knownWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)2
When threatening enemies assailWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Who can declare the day or hourWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Wide o’er earth’s remotest borderWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Zion, by her God forsakenWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English2
Lord, show thy glory, as of oldWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)3
Lord, when I lift my voice to TheeWilliam Hiley Bathurst (Author)English3
O, give thanks unto the Lord, All His wondrous deeds proclaimBathurst (Author)3
Before thy cross, my dying LordW. H. Bathurst (Author)4
Lord, a better heart bestowWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)4
Glory to the almighty FatherWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English5
Lord, when our offerings we presentWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)5
Eternal Spirit, by whose powerWm. Hiley Bathurst (Author)English6
Few are the hours when we can shareWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)6
How bright a day was that, which sawWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)6
To the Source of every blessingWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)6
Full of weakness and of sinWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English7
Ye servants of the living God Let praise your hearts employWilliam H Bathurst (Author)7
Hark, the distant isles proclaimWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English9
Lord, bid Thy light ariseWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English10
Savior at Thy feet we bowWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English10
Except the Lord our labors blessWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English12
When the world my heart is rendingWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English13
O Savior, may we never rest, Till Thou art formed withinWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English15
Shepherd of Israel, from aboveRev. William Hiley Bathurst, 1796- (Author)English16
Holy Lord, our hearts prepareWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)17
Before thy mercy seat, O LordWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English19
Spirit of holiness, look downBathurst (Author)20
This day the Lord hath called His ownWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English23
Great God, when I approach thy throneBathurst (Author)English29
O for that flame of living fireWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English65
Holy Spirit, from on highWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English66
Jesus, Thy church with longing eyesWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English68
Why should our tears in sorrow flowWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English79
How sweet the hour of closing dayWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English93
O for a faith that will not shrinkWilliam H. Bathurst (Author)English505

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