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William Cowper

1731 - 1800 Meter: 8.7 Author of "Hear what God the Lord hath spoken" in Church Book William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional stability, but the periods of severe depression returned. His depression was deepened by a religious bent, which often stressed the wrath of God, and at times Cowper felt that God had predestined him to damnation. For the last two decades of his life Cowper lived in Olney, where John Newton became his pastor. There he assisted Newton in his pastoral duties, and the two collaborated on the important hymn collection Olney Hymns (1779), to which Cowper contributed sixty-eight hymn texts. Bert Polman ============ Cowper, William, the poet. The leading events in the life of Cowper are: born in his father's rectory, Berkhampstead, Nov. 26, 1731; educated at Westminster; called to the Bar, 1754; madness, 1763; residence at Huntingdon, 1765; removal to Olney, 1768; to Weston, 1786; to East Dereham, 1795; death there, April 25, 1800. The simple life of Cowper, marked chiefly by its innocent recreations and tender friendships, was in reality a tragedy. His mother, whom he commemorated in the exquisite "Lines on her picture," a vivid delineation of his childhood, written in his 60th year, died when he was six years old. At his first school he was profoundly wretched, but happier at Westminster; excelling at cricket and football, and numbering Warren Hastings, Colman, and the future model of his versification. Churchill, among his contemporaries or friends. Destined for the Bar, he was articled to a solicitor, along with Thurlow. During this period he fell in love with his cousin, Theodora Cowper, sister to Lady Hesketh, and wrote love poems to her. The marriage was forbidden by her father, but she never forgot him, and in after years secretly aided his necessities. Fits of melancholy, from which he had suffered in school days, began to increase, as he entered on life, much straitened in means after his father's death. But on the whole, it is the playful, humorous side of him that is most prominent in the nine years after his call to the Bar; spent in the society of Colman, Bonnell Thornton, and Lloyd, and in writing satires for The Connoisseur and St. James's Chronicle and halfpenny ballads. Then came the awful calamity, which destroyed all hopes of distinction, and made him a sedentary invalid, dependent on his friends. He had been nominated to the Clerkship of the Journals of the House of Lords, but the dread of appearing before them to show his fitness for the appointment overthrew his reason. He attempted his life with "laudanum, knife and cord,"—-in the third attempt nearly succeeding. The dark delusion of his life now first showed itself—a belief in his reprobation by God. But for the present, under the wise and Christian treatment of Dr. Cotton (q. v.) at St. Albans, it passed away; and the eight years that followed, of which the two first were spent at Huntingdon (where he formed his lifelong friendship with Mrs. Unwin), and the remainder at Olney in active piety among the poor, and enthusiastic devotions under the guidance of John Newton (q. v.), were full of the realisation of God's favour, and the happiest, most lucid period of his life. But the tension of long religious exercises, the nervous excitement of leading at prayer meetings, and the extreme despondence (far more than the Calvinism) of Newton, could scarcely have been a healthy atmosphere for a shy, sensitive spirit, that needed most of all the joyous sunlight of Christianity. A year after his brother's death, madness returned. Under the conviction that it was the command of God, he attempted suicide; and he then settled down into a belief in stark contradiction to his Calvinistic creed, "that the Lord, after having renewed him in holiness, had doomed him to everlasting perdition" (Southey). In its darkest form his affliction lasted sixteen months, during which he chiefly resided in J. Newton's house, patiently tended by him and by his devoted nurse, Mrs. Unwin. Gradually he became interested in carpentering, gardening, glazing, and the tendance of some tame hares and other playmates. At the close of 1780, Mrs. Unwin suggested to him some serious poetical work; and the occupation proved so congenial, that his first volume was published in 1782. To a gay episode in 1783 (his fascination by the wit of Lady Austen) his greatest poem, The Task, and also John Gilpin were owing. His other principal work was his Homer, published in 1791. The dark cloud had greatly lifted from his life when Lady Hesketh's care accomplished his removal to Weston (1786): but the loss of his dear friend William Unwin lowered it again for some months. The five years' illness of Mrs. Unwin, during which his nurse of old became his tenderly-watched patient, deepened the darkness more and more. And her death (1796) brought “fixed despair," of which his last poem, The Castaway, is the terrible memorial. Perhaps no more beautiful sentence has been written of him, than the testimony of one, who saw him after death, that with the "composure and calmness" of the face there “mingled, as it were, a holy surprise." Cowper's poetry marks the dawn of the return from the conventionality of Pope to natural expression, and the study of quiet nature. His ambition was higher than this, to be the Bard of Christianity. His great poems show no trace of his monomania, and are full of healthy piety. His fame as a poet is less than as a letter-writer: the charm of his letters is unsurpassed. Though the most considerable poet, who has written hymns, he has contributed little to the development of their structure, adopting the traditional modes of his time and Newton's severe canons. The spiritual ideas of the hymns are identical with Newton's: their highest note is peace and thankful contemplation, rather than joy: more than half of them are full of trustful or reassuring faith: ten of them are either submissive (44), self-reproachful (17, 42, 43), full of sad yearning (1, 34), questioning (9), or dark spiritual conflict (38-40). The specialty of Cowper's handling is a greater plaintiveness, tenderness, and refinement. A study of these hymns as they stood originally under the classified heads of the Olney Hymns, 1779, which in some cases probably indicate the aim of Cowper as well as the ultimate arrangement of the book by Newton, shows that one or two hymns were more the history of his conversion, than transcripts of present feelings; and the study of Newton's hymns in the same volume, full of heavy indictment against the sins of his own regenerate life, brings out the peculiar danger of his friendship to the poet: it tends also to modify considerably the conclusions of Southey as to the signs of incipient madness in Cowper's maddest hymns. Cowper's best hymns are given in The Book of Praise by Lord Selborne. Two may be selected from them; the exquisitely tender "Hark! my soul, it is the Lord" (q. v.), and "Oh, for a closer walk with God" (q. v.). Anyone who knows Mrs. Browning's noble lines on Cowper's grave will find even a deeper beauty in the latter, which is a purely English hymn of perfect structure and streamlike cadence, by connecting its sadness and its aspiration not only with the “discord on the music" and the "darkness on the glory," but the rapture of his heavenly waking beneath the "pathetic eyes” of Christ. Authorities. Lives, by Hayley; Grimshaw; Southey; Professor Goldwin Smith; Mr. Benham (attached to Globe Edition); Life of Newton, by Rev. Josiah Bull; and the Olney Hymns. The numbers of the hymns quoted refer to the Olney Hymns. [Rev. H. Leigh Bennett, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================ Cowper, W. , p. 265, i. Other hymns are:— 1. Holy Lord God, I love Thy truth. Hatred of Sin. 2. I was a grovelling creature once. Hope and Confidence. 3. No strength of nature can suffice. Obedience through love. 4. The Lord receives His highest praise. Faith. 5. The saints should never be dismayed. Providence. All these hymns appeared in the Olney Hymns, 1779. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) ===================== Cowper, W., p. 265, i. Prof. John E. B. Mayor, of Cambridge, contributed some letters by Cowper, hitherto unpublished, together with notes thereon, to Notes and Queries, July 2 to Sept. 24, 1904. These letters are dated from Huntingdon, where he spent two years after leaving St. Alban's (see p. 265, i.), and Olney. The first is dated "Huntingdon, June 24, 1765," and the last "From Olney, July 14, 1772." They together with extracts from other letters by J. Newton (dated respectively Aug. 8, 1772, Nov. 4, 1772), two quotations without date, followed by the last in the N. & Q. series, Aug. 1773, are of intense interest to all students of Cowper, and especially to those who have given attention to the religious side of the poet's life, with its faint lights and deep and awful shadows. From the hymnological standpoint the additional information which we gather is not important, except concerning the hymns "0 for a closer walk with God," "God moves in a mysterious way," "Tis my happiness below," and "Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken." Concerning the last three, their position in the manuscripts, and the date of the last from J. Newton in the above order, "Aug. 1773," is conclusive proof against the common belief that "God moves in a mysterious way" was written as the outpouring of Cowper's soul in gratitude for the frustration of his attempted suicide in October 1773. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

J. Hallett Sheppard

1835 - 1879 Person Name: J. H. Shepherd Meter: 8.7 Composer of "[The King of love my Shepherd is]" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892

Edmund S. Carter

1845 - 1923 Person Name: Rev. E. S. Carter Meter: 8.7 Composer of "[Earth has many a noble city]" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892 Born: February 3, 1845, New Malton, Yorkshire, England. Died: May 23, 1923, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. Carter attended Worcester College, Oxford (BA & MA 1871). He was ordained deacon in 1871, and priest in 1872. He served as Curate of Christ Church, Ealing, Middlesex (1871-75); Vicar choral of York Minster (1875); Rector of St. Martin, Micklegate, York (1877-82); and Vicar of St. Michael Belfry, York (1882). Music: DAY BY DAY WREFORD --www.hymntime.com/tch/

Alberto Randegger

1832 - 1911 Person Name: Albert Randegger Meter: 8.7 Composer of "[God in heaven, hear our singing]" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892

James Russell Woodford

1820 - 1885 Person Name: Bp. J. R. Woodford Meter: 8.7 Translator of "Christ, above all glory seated" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892 Woodford, James Russell, D.D., was born April 30, 1820, and educated at Merchant Taylors School, and Pembroke College, Cambridge, of which he was a scholar; B.A. Senior Optime, and 2nd class in the Classical Tripos. He was ordained in 1843, and became second Master in Bishop's College, Bristol; and Curate of St. John the Baptist, Broad Street, in that city. He became Incumbent of St. Saviour's, Coalpit Heath, 1845; of St. Mark's, Easton, Bristol, 1848; and Vicar of Kempsford, Gloucestershire, 1855. In 1868 he was preferred by the Crown to the important vicarage of Leeds on Dr. Atlay's appointment as Bishop of Hereford. He was several times Select Preacher at Cambridge. He was also Hon. Chaplain to the Queen (1867). In 1873 he was consecrated, in Westminster Abbey, Bishop of Ely. He died at Ely on Oct. 24, 1885. Bishop Woodford published Sermons, 1853; Lectures for Holy Week, 1853; Lectures on the Creed, 1853; Sermons, 1864; and Sermons, Charges, &c, at later dates. His Hymns arranged for the Sundays and Holy Days of the Church of England appeared in 1852 and 1855. He also joined H. W. Beadon, and Greville Phillimore in editing The Parish Hymn Book, 1863, and (enlarged) 1875. To these collections his original hymns, and his translations from the Latin, were contributed. The originals include:— 1. Lamb of God, for sinners slain. Passiontide. 1852. 2. Not by Thy mighty hand. Epiphany. 1863. 3. O come, and with the early morn. Easter. 1852. 4. Within the Father's house. Epiphany. 1863. Bishop Woodford's translations are annotated under their respective Latin first lines. They are good and popular, the best known being "Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, Thee." -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Frederick Alexander Mann

1844 - 1903 Person Name: F. A. Mann Meter: 8.7 Composer of "[Raised between the earth and heaven]" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892 See his obituary in The Musical Herald, May 1, 1903. The hymnal Hymns of Prayer and Praise (1921) confirms these birth and death dates, in addition to his composing hymn tunes as listed here. Not to be confused with Frederick Mann, 1846-1928. --Tina Schneider, 01 July 2014. ======================= Mr. F. A. Mann was the musical director of the children’s Home at Victoria Park. He possessed a find conception for music; he gave a “reading” and interpretation to everything he touched, even to a children’s hymn. He composed but little; probably his reserve in this respect was due to his high ideals and his reverence for the great masters. For nineteen years F. A. Mann practiced the musical profession at Lowestoft. Here he was organist successively of the Parish Church of St. Margaret, and of the church at Kirkley. His power as a choir-trainer was soon discovered by other churches, including nonconformists, and by the help of deputies he managed to train three or four choirs abreast. For fourteen years he devoted himself to training the choir of children belonging to the Children’s Home. Mr. Mann understood children; his poetic musical instinct drew forth their powers; he interested them and they needed no spur. Excerpt from The Musical Herald, Issues 658-669 (1903) By John Spencer Curwen

Claude de Santeul

1628 - 1684 Person Name: Santolius Maglorianus Meter: 8.7 Author of "Now, my soul, thy voice upraising" in Church Book Santeüil, Claude de, elder brother of Jean-Baptiste de Santeüil, was born in Paris, Feb. 3, 1628. He became a secular ecclesiastic of the Seminary of St. Magloire, Paris, whence he was also known under the Latin-ized form of his name as Santolius Maglorianus. He died Sept. 29, 1684. Like his brother, he was a good writer of Latin poetry, and some hymns by him were included in the Cluniac Breviary, 1686, and the Paris Breviaries of 1680 and 1736. Some of these hymns have been translated into English, and are in common use in Great Britain. [George Arthur Crawford, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

J. W. Randolph

b. 1842 Person Name: J. W. R. Meter: 8.7 Composer of "WALTER" in The Everlasting Joy James Weldon Randolph was born October 15, 1842, at Philadelphia, Pa. He attended Northern Liberty and James Bird's Schools. He has given special study to the subjects of music, French, German and Spanish, and received the D.D. degree from Paul Quinncollege. He was converted in 1863 and joined the A. M.E. Chruch the same year. He was licensed to preach and was ordained deacon in 1870 and elder in 1871 at Columbus, Ga. He has held appointments in George, Arkansas, Texas, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. From Centennial Encyclpaedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church by Richard R. Wright, Jr. and John R. Hawkins (Philadelphia: 1916)

John Wingrove

1720 - 1793 Person Name: Wingrove Meter: 8.7 Author of "Hail, my ever blessed Jesus" in A New Selection of Seven Hundred Evangelical Hymns ... intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Tunes Wingrove, John. A few hymns by this writer are in J. Middleton's Hymns, 1793. D. Sedgwick dates his pieces 1785. One of these still in common use is, "Hail! my ever blessed Jesus." b. 1720; d. 1793. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Jean-Baptiste de Santeul

1630 - 1697 Person Name: J. B. de Santeuil Meter: 8.7 Author of "Where the angel-hosts adore Thee" in The Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892 Santeüil, Jean-Baptiste de, was born in Paris of a good family on May 12, 1630. He was one of the regular Canons of St. Victor, at Paris, and, under the name of Santolius Victorinus, was distinguished as a writer of Latin poetry. Many of his hymns appeared in the Cluniac Breviary 1686, and the Paris Breviaries 1680 and 1736, and several have been translated into English, and are in common use in Great Britain and America. He was very jocose in disposition and singular in his habits. When on a journey he died at Dijon, Aug. 5, 1697. His Hymni Sacri et Novi were published at Paris in 1689, and again, enlarged, in 1698. [George Arthur Crawford, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)