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

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